Category: World

Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has launched a sharp critique of the United States and the Western military alliance NATO, asserting that emerging global platforms like BRICS represent a more democratic and consensus-driven world order. In an interview with a Russian YouTube channel, Lavrov argued that organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) function largely through consensus, unlike NATO, which he claimed operates under U.S. dominance. “You cannot make decisions…

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Dhaka: A major political transition is underway in Bangladesh as Tarique Rahman and his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), secured a sweeping mandate in the February 12 parliamentary elections. Winning more than 200 of the 299 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, the BNP is set to form the next government, positioning Rahman—son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia—as the country’s new Prime Minister. Rahman’s victory over the alliance that included Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party marks a decisive political shift. Analysts believe the change in leadership could significantly…

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Washington | India is likely to gradually reduce its purchases of crude oil from Russia as part of a revised trade understanding with the United States that includes tariff relief, according to sources familiar with the matter. While imports are not expected to stop immediately, refiners have been advised to scale back future purchases amid shifting geopolitical and trade priorities. On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order отменing the proposed 25 percent punitive tariff on all Indian imports. The move followed New Delhi’s commitment to reduce its…

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 Riyadh | Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic transformation plan, Vision 2030, is showing signs of strain, prompting the kingdom to prepare a major strategic recalibration. According to a Bloomberg report, the Saudi government is working on a revised approach that will reshape spending priorities and adjust policy focus in response to mounting financial pressures and changing global economic conditions. The plan, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), was designed to reduce the kingdom’s dependence on oil and diversify its economy. However, rising costs and fiscal challenges have led authorities to…

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London | Political uncertainty is mounting in the United Kingdom amid speculation that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government could face collapse. Against this backdrop, discussions have intensified over the possibility of the UK getting its first Muslim woman prime minister, with Shabana Mahmood emerging as a leading contender. Currently serving as the UK Home Secretary, Mahmood is regarded as one of the most influential leaders within the Labour Party and a potential successor to Starmer should a leadership transition take place. The speculation has gained momentum as governments across the…

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Dhaka | Following India, the United States has reached a new trade understanding with Bangladesh, easing tariff pressure on key exports and offering relief to the country’s crucial garment sector. According to official sources, the US government has reduced tariffs imposed on Bangladeshi goods and has also decided to eliminate duties on certain textile products. The agreement comes amid speculation that Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, was in advanced talks with Washington to finalize a trade arrangement. On Monday, both sides concluded a bilateral deal, which will…

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Dhaka | With Bangladesh heading into a crucial general election, the political climate in the country has intensified sharply. The polls come at a turning point, with the Awami League barred from contesting and an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus governing since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. The upcoming vote is expected to usher in a full-time prime minister after nearly 18 months of interim rule. Main Contenders The election battle is largely centered between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led…

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Washington: Few criminal cases have unsettled the public conscience as deeply as that of Jeffrey Epstein. The story combines extreme wealth, systemic sexual abuse, elite access, institutional failure, and a lingering sense that full justice was never achieved. Even years after Epstein’s death in federal custody in August 2019, the case continues to reverberate—less as a closed chapter and more as an open wound in the public imagination. That fascination reached a new peak with the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by U.S. President Donald…

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Kyoto: Japan’s political story over the past 16 months reads like a high-stakes drama—one that began with scandal, flirted with collapse, and ended in a sweeping comeback few would have predicted. Two snap elections, held under two very different prime ministers, have not only reshaped the balance of power in Tokyo but also redefined voter expectations, party alliances, and the very idea of leadership in modern Japan. The first election, in October 2024, delivered a stinging rebuke to the once-invincible Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The…

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Dhaka: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday confirmed the death of a woman due to Nipah virus infection in Bangladesh, raising fresh concerns over the re-emergence of the deadly zoonotic disease. The incident occurred in late January in northern Bangladesh. According to WHO, the woman, aged between 40 and 50 years, developed initial symptoms such as fever and headache on January 21. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, with severe symptoms including excessive salivation, mental confusion, and seizures. She died about a week after the onset of symptoms. Laboratory tests conducted…

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