Author: News Desk

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…

By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a mosque in Islamabad, expressing deep sympathy for the families of those killed. In a message addressing the incident, Yousafzai described it as “shocking” that people are no longer safe in places of worship. She called the attack on worshippers and civilians a “cowardly and horrific crime,” saying it struck at humanity, faith, and national values, and had deeply affected the entire nation. “I pray for peace in our country,” she added. The attack took place at the Khadija-tul-Kubra mosque and imambargah in the…

News Desk DHAKA: The World Health Organization said on Friday that a woman in northern Bangladesh had died in January after contracting the deadly Nipah virus. Nipah cases are reported in Bangladesh almost every year. The new case follows two recent infections in neighboring India, which have led to stepped-up airport screenings across Asia. The patient, aged between 40 and 50, developed symptoms on January 21, including fever and headache, followed by hypersalivation, disorientation, and convulsions, the WHO said. She died a week later and was confirmed to have the virus the next day. She had not travelled recently but…

News Desk BEIJING: China has warned the United States that a proposed arms sale to Taiwan could jeopardize President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing, according to international media reports. Trump’s trip to China is scheduled for April, following a recent telephone call between the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In the call, Trump described the discussion as “excellent,” covering trade, military issues, Taiwan, the conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, and developments in Iran. A statement from the White House said the leaders also discussed China’s purchase of oil, gas, and additional agricultural products from the US, as…

News Desk NAROWAL: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal called for an end to religious radicalism and stressed the need for collective efforts to counter external agendas aimed at destabilizing the country. Speaking at a ceremony in Narowal, he said that acts of terrorism targeting innocent people had no basis in Islam and reflected a distortion of the religion’s core teachings. Iqbal emphasized that Islam was a faith rooted in love, peace, and brotherhood, and warned that those seeking to sow division and hatred among communities were, in reality, advancing the objectives of Pakistan’s enemies. He urged citizens, religious scholars, and civil…

News Desk DUSHANBE: President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon sent a telegram of condolence to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the tragic consequences of a deadly terrorist attack in Islamabad. Praying for the departed souls, the Tajik president strongly condemned what he described as a cruel terrorist act and all manifestations of terrorism. He stressed the need for a relentless struggle against what he called a shared evil. President Asif Ali Zardari later thanked Emomali Rahmon for the message of condolence and solidarity. In a post on X, Zardari said Pakistan valued Tajikistan’s…

News Desk MUSCAT: Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that nuclear talks with the United States, mediated by Oman, were off to a “good start” and set to continue. The remarks could ease fears that a breakdown in negotiations might push the Middle East closer to war. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said after the talks in Muscat that “any dialogue requires refraining from threats and pressure. Tehran only discusses its nuclear issue. We do not discuss any other issue with the US.” “It was a good start to the negotiations. And there is an understanding on continuing the talks. Coordination…