Trump, Zelensky say Ukraine peace deal 'very close' after Florida talks

IANS | December 29, 2025 6:24 AM

Washington, Dec 29 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said that peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine were “very close” following what he described as a “terrific meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Bangladesh reports 71 blasphemy-linked attacks on Hindus from June-Dec: Report

IANS | December 28, 2025 9:25 PM

Dhaka, Dec 28 (IANS) At least 71 incidents related to blasphemy allegations against Hindu minorities were reported in Bangladesh from June-December this year, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) said in a report. The HRCBM documented cases from more than 30 districts, including Chandpur, Chattogram, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj, Khulna, Comilla, Gazipur, Tangail and Sylhet, according to the report.

Elections in Pak-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan meaningless until region has own provisional constitution: Report

IANS | December 28, 2025 9:14 PM

Islamabad, Dec 28 (IANS) Pakistan continues to occupy Gilgit-Baltistan despite its legal accession to India in 1947. Pakistan is set to hold Assembly elections in the occupied territory of Gilgit-Baltistan in a few months; however, the polls would be meaningless until the region has its own provisional constitution and the Assembly has authority to legislate over resources, a report has stated.

Curtain of darkness: How British empire denied 'light of knowledge' to further its despotism (From the Archives)

Santosh Kumar Verma | December 28, 2025 8:55 PM

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) The British occupation of India was built upon a great lie: the assertion that foreign dominion served the "welfare and happiness of the inhabitants". The East India Company (EIC), a vast trading corporation that had morphed into a territorial sovereign, continually boasted of establishing "courts of justice" and creating "new and valuable property" for the natives, claiming to have replaced a chaotic, precarious past.

Security analysts concerned as convicted militants in B'desh remain at large: Report

IANS | December 28, 2025 8:12 PM

Dhaka, Dec 28 (IANS) Six convicted militants who escaped from prison during the July-August 2024 upheaval remain at large while 18 firearms looted from damaged prisons have not been found yet. At the same time, nearly 200 inmates held on charges related to militancy have been released on bail during the past eight months, with no latest information about their whereabouts, a report said, citing official sources.