Latest annual UN report highlighted the growing and sophisticated trend of cross-border repression targeting human rights activistsreports Asian Lite News The United Nations, in its latest report on reprisals, revealed that two senior staff members of the Hong Kong Democracy Council a Washington-based nonprofit advocating for democracy in Hong Kong were allegedly subjected to repeated retaliation by the Chinese government for their cooperation with the UN, according to a report published by th

Congress freedom movement against British rule got a tremendous impetus from the 1945 showpiece trial of three officers of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses Indian National Army (INA), says CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali Subhashini Ali, a well-known leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), believes the Indian National Congress freedom movement received a tremendous impetus from the 1945 showpiece trial of three officers of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses Indian National Army (INA). This rebel army,

Minorities are insecure in Bangladesh, be they ethnic or religious. The Bengali-speaking Hindu minorities have been facing attacks regularly since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government writes Rahul Sharma The new rulers of Bangladesh have no mercy for the minority communities in the country, be they religious minorities or ethnic minorities. Recent attacks on the minorities are increasing the insecurity among them. Fast turning into a puppet in the hands of the fundamentalist forces, the int

The Doha talks are seen as a crucial step in de-escalating hostilities, addressing security concerns, and preventing further civilian casualties along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following over a week of intense fighting that claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds injured, Qatars Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. The statement highlighted that both countries also committed to establishing mechanisms to consolidate lasting

Bipartisan US lawmakers urge Trump to attend Quad Summit in India and key Asia meetings, stressing leadership in Indo-Pacific and repairing strained India-US relations, reports Nayan Seth A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has written to President Donald Trump, urging him to personally attend the Quad Leaders Summit in India and other crucial multilateral meetings in Asia. The appeal comes amid growing concerns over Chinas expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. Representative Gregory W. Meeks,

India to host worlds first Global South AI summit in 2026, with Ashwini Vaishnaw inviting Rishi Sunak to join global talks on responsible, inclusive artificial intelligence. Indias Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has invited former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, a landmark global event that India will host in New Delhi next February. Sharing details of their exchange on social media, Vaishnaw wrote, Good conversation

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans Bahrain visit deepens Keralas engagement with the Gulf, focusing on trade, investment, and diaspora welfare as both sides reaffirm shared interests in development and cultural exchange. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Bahrains Deputy Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, in Manama on Friday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen Keralas engagement with the Gulf region. The meeting, held during Vijayans ongoing mult

Welcoming Sunak to India, Nadda said his tenure as Prime Minister infused new warmth and momentum into India-UK relations. He appreciated Sunaks leadership in advancing negotiations for the India-UK Free Trade Agreement Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, met former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday. The two leaders exchanged views on further cementing the India-UK economic partnership. In a post on X on Thursday, Goyal wrote, It was a pleasure to meet former UK Prime Min

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan begins Gulf tour in Bahrain, engaging expatriate community and promoting welfare initiatives for NRKs, strengthening diaspora ties and showcasing Keralas development achievements.reports Asian Lite News Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has arrived in Bahrain, marking the start of his Gulf tour aimed at engaging the states expatriate community and promoting welfare initiatives for non-resident Keralites (NRKs). Departing from Thiruvananthapuram, the Chief Minister

Indias foreign ministry says it is not aware of a phone call in which Donald Trump claimed Narendra Modi agreed to halt Russian oil purchasesreports Asian Lite News Indias foreign ministry has said it is not aware of a phone call in which President Donald Trump claimed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil. The statement, issued on Thursday, casts doubt on Trumps assertion a day earlier that India had pledged to cut off Russian energy supplies in support of We

Vijayans Middle East tour underwent a revision after the Ministry of External Affairs declined permission for his planned visit to Saudi Arabia.reports Asian Lite News Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrived in Bahrain, marking the start of his Gulf tour aimed at strengthening ties with the Malayali diaspora and highlighting welfare initiatives for non-resident Keralites (NRKs). He departed from Thiruvananthapuram on the night of October 15 via Gulf Air. On October 17, Vijayan is schedule

Government presses ahead with a series of high-level visits to Beijing even as controversy over collapsed espionage case casts a shadow on relations.reports Asian Lite News Ministers are pushing ahead with their reset of relations with China, including several planned high-level visits before the end of the year, despite the furore triggered by the collapse of a high-profile espionage trial. Plans have been drawn up for Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, to travel to Beijing in Nove

Joint exercises with India mark deepening strategic cooperation as new defence deals secure British jobs and strengthen UKs Indo-Pacific presencereports Asian Lite News Britains strategic partnership with India has taken a significant step forward as the UKs Carrier Strike Group (CSG25) completed a high-profile visit to Mumbai and Goa, conducting joint military exercises with the Indian Armed Forces in the Indian Ocean. The visit formed part of an eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment known as Ope

The plaintiff argued that the visa fee, if implemented, would inflict significant harm on American businessesreports Asian Lite News The US Chamber of Commerce, the nations largest business lobby, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the new $100,000 H-1B visa application fee as unlawful. In a lawsuit filed in a district court in Washington on Thursday, the plaintiff argued that the visa fee, if implemented, would inflict significant harm on American businesses and f

The IMF on Tuesday raised Indias growth projection to 6.6 per cent, an upward swing of 0.2 percentage pointsreports Asian Lite News IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday praised India for undertaking very significant reforms, noting that the country makes a substantial contribution to global growth. While addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the annual IMF-World Bank meetings in Washington, Georgieva listed Indias reform efforts in multiple sectors. India is one of

US President Donald Trump plans to tighten pressure on Moscow by halting global energy imports from Russia.reports Asian Lite News Since imposing a large sum of reciprocal trade tariff, Trump has been critical of New Delhi for continuing to buy Russian oil. After failing to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump now plans to tighten economic pressure on Moscow by potentially halting global energy imports from Russia. In this endeavour, he has chosen to focus on his good friend

The leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in education and capacity building.reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Thursday, reaffirming Indias steadfast support for Colombo. The leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in education and capacity building. Pleased to meet PM Harini Amarasuriya of Sri Lanka this morning in Delhi. Dis

Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, is facing immense pressure from his officers, and this led him to cancel his visits to India and Saudi Arabia.reports Asian Lite News A major showdown is looming between the Muhammad Yunus regime and the Bangladesh Army. After a prolonged period of uneasy calm, tensions have escalated sharply following the International Crimes Tribunals issuance of arrest warrants against 24 army officers. The ICT issued the warrants for their alleged involvement in enforced d

China has launched the construction of the Yarlung Hydropower Project. The project, located in the geologically sensitive Pemakoe region, also known as the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo, sits in an area of dramatic elevation change from about 2,900 meters above sea level at Pai to just 600 meters at the end of the Bend. This steep descent creates a hydroelectric potential of nearly 60,000 megawatts, which China is determined to harness despite the immense technological, environmental, and p

According to the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Moggallana were the two principal disciples of Lord Buddha. Revered for their wisdom and spiritual accomplishments, they hold a prominent place in the history of Buddhismreports Asian Lite News The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday stated that India will be sending the sacred relics of Arhant Sariputta and Arhant Mahamogallana to Mongolia in 2026 as a gesture of spiritual goodwill aimed at deepening spiritual

What made it even more remarkable was that this grand act was performed entirely by children aged 8 to 17, who balanced months of intensive rehearsals with their academic commitments. More than20 young performers from schools across Londonbrought the timeless Indian epicRamayanato life atDiwali on Trafalgar Square 2025, one of the citys largest and most cherished cultural celebrations. Organised by theMayor of London, the event drew an enthusiastic crowd of nearly30,000 people, all captivated by

Organized by Indian-origin doctors associated with the GRMC group in London, AalokNama featured nearly an hour-long session where Aalok beautifully weaved motivational stories and poetry together a blend that deeply resonated with the literature-loving medical professionals present Poet & lyricist Aalok Shrivastavs show held in London & Birmingham; honored with the Sahitya Gaurav Samman The cold air of London and Birmingham turned warm with a wave of literary fervor when renowned poet and lyric

Bennetts statement came after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that 12 Afghan civilians were killed and over 100 others injured in recent attacksreports Asian Lite News UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, on Wednesday voiced concern over rising civilian casualties and continued clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces. He urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint, ensure the protection of civilians, and adhere to international law. In a state

Mujahid said that multiple Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by Afghan forcesreports Asian Lite News At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a Pakistani military strike on Spin Boldak district in southern Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on Wednesday, local media reported, citing the Taliban. In a statement shared on X, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistani forces launched an attack on the border district early morning using light and h

The exercise also reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the United Kingdom towards maintaining regional peace, security, and stability. The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a joint exercise with the United Kingdoms Royal Navy over the Indian Ocean, showcasing the increasing coordination and synergy between the two forces, the IAF said on Wednesday. The exercise, conducted on October 14, featured IAFs Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS, and AEW&C aircraft operating in coordination with the Ro

India last served on the HRC in 2024, completing a second consecutive term.reports Asian Lite News India has been elected unopposed to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the seventh time, securing a three-year term beginning next year, and has pledged to act as a bridge-builder among member states. After Indias election by the General Assembly was announced on Tuesday, Permanent Representative P Harish said, This election reflects Indias unwavering commitment to human rights and fundamental f

Alckmin is expected to attend the India-Brazil Business Forum and visit the All India Institute of Ayurveda.reports Asian Lite News Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will embark on a two-day visit to India from Wednesday to review bilateral trade and investment ties and bolster the countries multifaceted Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced. Alckmin, also Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil, will hold the inaugural Trade Minis

Officials warn that Pakistan cannot continue suppressing such protests by force indefinitely. A breaking point, they say, is inevitable when the growing discontent converges into a major challenge for the establishment and its security forces.reports Asian Lite News Public resentment toward Pakistans establishment, particularly the army, is mounting as civilian deaths from alleged military atrocities continue to rise. The action of the security personnel against the members of the Tehreek-e-Lab

Rajnath Singh said India recognises that the success of peacekeeping depends not only on numbers but on preparedness.reports Asian Lite News Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday highlighted the urgent need for UN reforms, warning that the organisation currently faces a crisis of confidence. Speaking at the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) Chiefs Conclave hosted by the Indian Army, Rajnath Singh said, We cannot fight todays challenges with outdated multilateral structures.

The three-day conference, beginning Monday afternoon, will take place at Wilton Park, the Foreign Offices policy forum based in West Sussex The UK will host an international summit on the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, Downing Street confirmed on Sunday. The three-day conference, beginning Monday afternoon, will take place at Wilton Park, the Foreign Offices policy forum based in West Sussex. The event is expected to bring together senior representatives from the Palestinian Authority, Sau

The PakistanSomalia defence arrangement exemplifies a new modality of influence projection, i.e. doctrinal outsourcing. It allows major powers to implant strategic thought systems without formal basing rights or direct agreements. For Somalia, the trade-off between capacity and autonomy is thus sharper than it appears, writes Manan Bhatt (Retd) The PakistanSomalia Defence Cooperation MoU (August 2025) must be viewed not as an isolated bilateral arrangement but as an extension of Pakistans evolvi

Veteran actress Neena Guptahas opened up about the persistent challenges older actors face in the entertainment industry, pointing out a shortage of meaningful roles written for people her age. Speaking candidly at the FICCI Frames 2025summit, Gupta reflected on a brief period in her career when she was offered several strong and age-appropriate roles, particularly from small-budget OTT projects. She said these roles excited her and gave her a creative boost. However, many of those promising pro

The AUSTRAHIND exercise, which followed Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs recent visit to Australia, reaffirmed the deepening defence cooperation between the two nationsreports Asian Lite News Strengthening the expanding defence partnership between India and Australia, the fourth edition of the bilateral military exercise AUSTRAHIND began at Irwin Barracks in Perth. The opening ceremony focused on enhancing interoperability and operational readiness, preparing both armies to conduct joint company-

Trumps remarks come days after Modi called him to congratulate on the success of the Gaza peace plan.reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump on Monday lauded India and described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a very good friend. He mentioned India during his speech in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, after signing the peace agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top, and he has just done a fantastic job, he added. Trumps

The Canadian Foreign Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday in New Delhi, vowing to strengthen the tiesreports Asian Lite News As India and Canada move to chart a new roadmap for their relationship, a prominent Canadian foreign policy expert says a reset is underway, describing Foreign Minister Anita Anands visit to India as a significant step forward in rebuilding ties. While speaking to IANS from Vancouver in Canada, Vina Nadjibulla, the

This moment has gone viral again, resonating with fans and followers who admire Khans confidence and charisma qualities that have helped cement his place in the cinematic world far beyond just box office numbers Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, who recently became the richest actor in the world, once boldly claimed he is the last of the stars, in a resurfaced video that captures his unwavering self-belief. The clip, taken from The Anupam Kher Show, features host Anupam Kher asking Khan whether he