Yashwi Thakur

[ad_1] The Taliban morality police in Afghanistan have detained men and their barbers over hairstyles and others for missing prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan, a UN report said Thursday, six months after laws regulating people's conduct came into effect. The Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws last August covering many aspects everyday life in Afghanistan, including public transport, music, shaving and celebrations. Most notably, the ministry issued a ban on women's voices and bare faces in public. That same month, a top UN official warned the laws provided a "distressing vision" for the country's future by adding to existing employment, education, and dress code restrictions on women and girls. Taliban officials have rejected UN concerns about the morality laws. Thursday's report, from the UN mission in Afghanistan, said in the first 6 months of the laws' […]

[ad_1] Beijing: China's Film Administration said on Thursday it would "moderately reduce" the number of US films it imported into the country, as a standoff between the world's two largest economies escalates. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 percent, while China has imposed retaliatory levies of 84 percent. And on Thursday, the effects of the trade war spread to China's huge and lucrative film market, the world's second largest. "The wrong action of the US government's indiscriminate tariffs on China is bound to further reduce the favourable impression of domestic audiences on American films," a statement from the film administration said."We will follow the law of the market, respect the choice of the audience, and moderately reduce the number of US films imported." Beijing already limits the number of foreign films shown in […]

[ad_1] Sheikh Hasina (File photo) A court in Bangladesh issued a fresh arrest warrant on Thursday against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Saima Wajed Putul and 17 others in a corruption case, alleging fraudulent acquisition of a residential plot. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib accepted the charge sheet from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)."Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammad Zakir Hossain Galib issued the warrant accepting the ACC charge sheet in the case," said ACC prosecutor Mir Ahammed Salam to the press, as quoted by news agency PTI.The judge requested ACC to present its investigation report on May 4 regarding the case of land leased by RAJUK in Purbachal area near Dhaka. The ACC initiated the case against the former premier on January 12, 2025, along with other government officials.The charge sheet states that Hasina's daughter Putul […]

[ad_1] In a dramatic escalation of the global trade standoff, China is rallying international support in response to US President Donald Trump’s steep new tariffs — but it’s finding limited success as countries weigh economic pragmatism against political allegiance.This week, the White House hiked tariffs on Chinese imports to a staggering 125%, accusing Beijing of unfair practices. China struck back almost immediately, slapping 84% tariffs on American goods. The sharp exchange marks a deepening of hostilities that now seems focused squarely on a US-China collision course — with the rest of the world caught in the crossfire.Despite Trump's initial broad approach — targeting multiple trading partners — he pulled back on most nations this week, offering a 90-day pause to encourage direct talks. "Countries are lining up to negotiate," he said Wednesday, acknowledging market turmoil.But China is refusing to blink.“China […]

[ad_1] Adam Schiff raises insider trading concerns after Trump's tariff pause Following a turbulent day on Wall Street sparked by President Trump’s sudden 90-day tariff pause on most countries—with the exception of China—Democratic Senator Adam Schiff has raised concerns about insider trading within the Trump administration. In a pointed statement on Capitol Hill, Schiff criticized what he described as an erratic and dangerous trade policy. “This on again, off again, it must be Wednesday, tariffs are off again kind of policy… has just wreaked havoc on the markets,” he said.But the damage to the markets, Schiff alleged, might only be the surface of a deeper scandal. Referencing a social media earlier in the day from President Trump saying “this is a good time to buy,” Schiff questioned who may have known in advance about the administration’s plans to lift tariffs—a […]

[ad_1] Steve Shand (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP) , Harshkumar Patel (Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office via AP) A federal court justice, on Tuesday, denied applications for fresh trials of two individuals found guilty on charges related to human smuggling. The case involved the tragic deaths of four Indians who died of extreme cold while attempting to cross from Canada into Minnesota during a severe storm in 2022.US District Judge John Tunheim upheld the guilty verdicts delivered last November against Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Anthony Shand. The ruling enables the defendants to pursue their cases in a federal appeals court after their sentencing on May 7.Defence counsel for both accused contested the evidence sufficiency. "But this was not a close case," Tunheim stated.The judge determined adequate evidence existed for the jury's guilty verdict on all counts against both […]

[ad_1] A town hall event on CNN featuring Senator Bernie Sanders took an unexpected turn when anchor Anderson Cooper introduced a civil rights attorney using "incorrect" pronouns. Cooper said, “I want to introduce Grace Thomas. She is a local civil rights attorney. She is a Democrat, right?” Thomas politely corrected him, saying, “They/them pronouns, actually. Thank you.” Cooper responded with an “oh”.Sanders smiled seemingly in affirmation of Thomas as she corrected the anchor.Thomas further went on to ask Sanders, “Polling and turnout data indicate that men of all racial demographics are turning away from the Democratic Party...” The senator appeared to listen to the question intently, his face focused but slightly furrowed. Social media users picked up on his expression and joked that he looked confused about the pronoun. “Bernie’s face. He looks so confused,” wrote one user. Others used […]

[ad_1] OpenAI filed a lawsuit against billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday, alleging that he has deliberately tried to harm the company through a mix of public criticism, legal threats, and business manoeuvres. The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court that had recently blocked Musk’s attempt to challenge OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model, furthers the ongoing dispute between Musk and the AI company he co-founded. According to the legal filing, Musk used various tactics — including public posts on X, legal claims, and a failed $97.4 billion takeover bid — to damage OpenAI’s credibility and operations. OpenAI said the takeover offer was not genuine and was merely an attempt to disrupt the company’s growth. “Through press attacks, malicious campaigns broadcast to Musk’s more than 200 million followers on the social media platform he controls, a pretextual demand for corporate records, […]

[ad_1] The death toll in the catastrophic nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic has risen to at least 184, as desperate families continue to wait for news about missing loved ones. The incident occurred on Tuesday.Video footage circulating on social media showed he moment just before the roof collapsed, crushing hundreds of nightclub-goers under tonnes of debris. Rescuers officially ended the search for survivors late Wednesday and shifted their focus to recovery efforts.The collapse occurred early Tuesday at Jet Set, a nightclub in southern Santo Domingo, during a merengue concert by singer Rubby Pérez, who also died in the disaster.The nightclub was hosting musicians, politicians, professional athletes and celebrities. It was filled with dancing and music when the ceiling gave way without warning — sending tonnes of concrete crashing down on hundreds of guests.Victimis spent 'hours under rubble' Witnesses say […]

[ad_1] Chinese producers of plastic Christmas trees and other holiday items say they’ve yet to receive any orders from their US clients – and they fear they may not get any at all, reports news agency Reuters. The delay comes amid soaring US import tariffs, with US President Donald Trump ramping up levies on Chinese goods by 104% this year alone.Manufacturers across China have expressed concerns as international clients lower, pause, or even cancel orders.“By mid-April all the orders are normally finalised,” said Qun Ying, who runs a Christmas tree factory in Jinhua, eastern China. He was quoted as saying to Reuters, “But right now ... it's hard to know if any orders are coming. Maybe American customers won’t buy anything this year.”Across the festive supply chain, manufacturers are reporting a standstill. Jessica Guo, also based in Jinhua, said one […]