Author: News Desk

News Desk MOSCOW: Russia has signaled its readiness to deepen ties with India, saying bilateral relations can expand “as far as India is willing,” according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. In an interview with The Indian Express, Ryabkov described the history of relations between the two countries as “extraordinary” and suggested that cooperation across trade, investment, and strategic projects could grow significantly in the coming months. “The sky is the limit,” he said, emphasizing that Russia was prepared to explore opportunities in India’s rapidly growing economy, which, with a population of 1.5 billion, offers room for multiple partnerships.…

News Desk DHAKA: Shafiqur Rahman has long existed on the margins of Bangladeshi politics, but his face now dominates posters and billboards across Dhaka as voters are urged to elect the country’s first Jamaat‑e‑Islami‑led government in Thursday’s general election. The 67-year-old doctor and JI chief has emerged from near obscurity to become a serious contender for the prime ministership. A coalition led by JI is expected to mount a close challenge against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Bangladesh will vote on February 12 in its first national election since a Gen Z‑led uprising toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.…

News Desk NEW DEHLI: India’s government announced on Tuesday that social media companies must remove unlawful content within three hours of notification, tightening an earlier 36-hour timeline. The move could pose a compliance challenge for platforms such as Meta, YouTube and X. The changes amend India’s 2021 IT rules, which have long been a source of friction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and global technology firms. The new regulations will take effect from February 20. The step reinforces India’s position as one of the world’s most aggressive regulators of online content. Platforms are now expected to balance compliance in…

News Desk COLOMBO: A new controversy has emerged at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after Sri Lankan cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa questioned the bats used by Indian players. Speaking after Sri Lanka’s 20-run victory over Ireland in Colombo on Sunday, Rajapaksa claimed that Indian bats gave their players an unfair advantage, shifting attention away from the match result. In an interview with a news wire, he said the Indian bats were “far superior to the best bats available to us” and suggested they appeared to have “a layer of rubber” that enhanced performance. He added that ordinary players could not…

News Desk WARWICKSHIRE: An Afghan asylum seeker who arrived in the UK last year has been found guilty of raping and abducting a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, had been in the country for just four months when the attack took place in July 2025. His victim said he laughed while assaulting her, sparking protests in Nuneaton last summer. Footage from a doorbell camera showed Mulakhil asking the girl her age and ID before the attack. When she said she was 19, he requested her phone number. Mulakhil, who told police he was facing troubles in Afghanistan,…

News Desk COLOMBO: A commanding all-round performance saw Pakistan secure a 32-run victory over the United States in the 12th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played at Colombo’s SSC Ground on Tuesday. The contest, which pitched an established cricketing nation against an emerging side, underscored the gap in experience while also highlighting moments of resilience from the American team. Pakistan’s innings set the tone for the match. After being invited to bat first, the Green Shirts produced a competitive total of 190 for nine in 20 overs. The opening pair of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub…

News Desk DHAKA: Ahead of Bangladesh’s general elections on 12 February, authorities have classified nearly 24,000 polling stations across the country as high or medium risk. Inspector General of Police in Dhaka announced that out of the total, 8,770 polling centers have been designated high-risk, while 16,000 have been marked medium-risk. He said police personnel equipped with body cameras would be deployed at high-risk stations to ensure security. A three-tier security plan has been developed for every polling station. Inside the stations, police officers will be stationed, while mobile patrol teams will monitor the surroundings. According to the IG, 80…

News Desk NEW DEHLI: Authorities worldwide have reported a sharp rise in arrests, investigations, and deportations involving Indian citizens accused of serious crimes, raising concern about the international implications of criminal activity linked to India. According to Hindustan Times, 89 individuals of Indian origin were listed in the United States immigration database as high-priority criminal cases. The US Department of Homeland Security has made the names and details of their alleged offences publicly available, highlighting charges ranging from drug trafficking and fraud to sex crimes, kidnapping, money laundering, and violent offences. In addition, The Indian Express reported that the United…

News Desk WASHINGTON: The United States has accused China of conducting secret nuclear tests in June 2020, just days after clashes between India and China in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh. The allegation was made during a global arms control conference in Geneva, prompting a sharp response from Beijing. Thomas DiNanno, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control, told the UN Conference on Disarmament in Switzerland that the US government had evidence China carried out nuclear explosions, including preparations equivalent to hundreds of tons of explosive power. He alleged that China attempted to conceal the tests because they violated…

News Desk TEHRAN: Recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium is essential for nuclear talks with the US to succeed, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday. American and Iranian diplomats held indirect talks in Oman on Friday, aiming to revive diplomacy amid a US naval buildup near Iran and Tehran’s warnings of a harsh response if attacked. “Zero enrichment can never be accepted by us,” Araqchi said. “We need to focus on discussions that accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that it is and will remain for peaceful purposes.” Iran and the US held five rounds of nuclear…