SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Thursday, January 16, 2025 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
Six days on a small boat in rough seas: my terrifying, death-defying escape from the Taliban (The Guardian)
The Guardian [1/15/2025 5:00 AM, Annie Kelly, 82995K, Neutral]
On 15 August 2021, 21-year-old Sam Pordale and his father found themselves part of a huge, panicked crowd of people all trying to get to Kabul airport and away from the Taliban militants who, just hours earlier, had taken control of Afghanistan’s capital city.
Between the crowd and the entrance to the airport, Pordale could see a Taliban checkpoint, where heavily armed men were holding lists in their hands and checking people’s documents. Pordale, whose father had until that morning held a high-ranking position in the democratic government, knew that their chances of getting to the airport and on to an evacuation flight were blown.
Pordale turned to tell his father that they had to get away, but he had disappeared, vanished without a trace into the crowd. "At that point I didn’t know I’d never see him again," he says. "But I did know that I was now on my own and it was up to me to find a way of getting out of Afghanistan.".
The Taliban’s advance across Afghanistan in the chaotic days before the withdrawal of US and UK troops had been so fast and everything had unravelled so quickly that Pordale says he and his father had not thought of an escape plan. "My mother and my siblings were already in Turkey and I’d stayed in Kabul to help my father, but in those days when the provinces were falling to the Taliban, my father just couldn’t accept that this could happen and everything we’d been working towards would disappear," he says. "It was only that morning of the 15th, when we woke up and realised that [President] Ashraf Ghani had fled, that we came to our senses.".
Pordale’s life to this point had been spent in the highest circles of status and wealth in Afghanistan, thanks to his father’s positions in the military and government. But the huge security risks that came with his father’s work had also meant that his childhood was isolated and lonely. "Me and my siblings only really had each other because we weren’t allowed to go out and play. We only left the house to go to school and we changed schools all the time, so we didn’t have friends," he says. "My mother would never let us sleep anywhere near a window, so we’d have our beds in the corridors because the house could come under attack. And my father was always facing assassination attempts. By the time I was a teenager I’d survived two suicide bombing attacks on different schools.".
Looking back, Pordale says that the isolation from everyday life had also made him arrogant and entitled. "We really had no contact with the outside world," he says. "If we did leave the house, we would go with an armed escort. We grew up just accepting that our family had a lot of power." Then all that wealth and power vanished overnight. "That morning the government fell, we called everyone we’d been working with in the US and UK governments to ask for help but nobody answered," he says. "All these powerful allies and friends were gone in an instant.".
Getting closer to the checkpoint, Pordale knew he had to flee. He shouldered his way through the crowd and ran through the streets of Kabul before he found shelter in a shop. "I had nothing: no money, no luggage. We’d gone to the airport in such a panic," he says. "The only person I could think to call was this dodgy guy who was connected to everyone, including the Taliban, but our family had helped his mother when she was sick. He was the only one who answered the phone to me that day.".
Pordale was told to wait, and after an hour someone turned up and said they were there to take him to Iran. He took a bus to the border, then crossed into Iran hidden in a compartment under the floor of a minivan.
In Iran, he was put under the floor of another bus, compressed into a small space just a few feet above the road for a journey that lasted nearly two days. Trapped in the dark, with the heat and the pain, he kept trying to locate parts of his body to make sure he was still alive. "It was like nothing existed outside the inside of the bus," he says.
When he finally made it to Istanbul, he turned up dishevelled and filthy at his mother’s front door. "They hadn’t heard from me since Afghanistan fell," he says. "So it was a shock to them all." The family were reunited, but because Pordale had crossed into Turkey illegally he didn’t have the paperwork he needed to work or stay in the country. In 2022, a few months after he had arrived, Turkey began an aggressive deportation of illegal Afghan migrants back over the border into Afghanistan. "Many people I knew who had stayed in Afghanistan or who had got sent back were getting arrested or just went missing," says Pordale. "I knew people who had been killed. I was terrified of being sent back.".
Like many other Afghans who had fled to Turkey, he felt that the only thing he could do was to move on towards Europe. Pordale called the people who had got him into Turkey and they told him to go to a market in the centre of Istanbul. "It was like a shopping centre for people smugglers," says Pordale. "People would just be standing there outside shops yelling in multiple languages offering different packages to get you to Europe.".
Pordale was told that the cheapest route was overland through Bulgaria, with prices starting at £1,500. The most expensive, at about £8,000, was the sea crossing to Italy. He managed to get together the money to go to Italy and prepared to leave. The smugglers took Pordale and a group of about 60 others, mostly Afghans, to İzmir on the Turkish coast, and one night they did a long night trek in silence to a deserted beach to meet their boat. "When we saw the boat I thought, I’ve made a big mistake, because it was just this little fishing boat. It couldn’t have been more than 14 metres long," he says. "People were sitting literally on top of each other, piled up. There were parents trying to keep hold of babies. I managed to sit on a small kitchen sink, sort of crouching on top of it but my legs were bent underneath me.".
They were told the journey would take three days; in the end it took six. "On the third day everyone ran out of food and the sea was so rough that the water started coming in the boat," he says. "We were all soaking wet and terrified. People were going crazy. One guy just started screaming, ‘We’re all going to die,’ and at that moment I did just want to die so this could be over.".
On the sixth day at sea, they were spotted by an NGO rescue boat and taken to Sicily, and then, after being processed, to a reception centre. After a few days there, Pordale decided to keep moving towards the UK. "My family had worked a lot with the British government and I felt this sense of brotherhood," he says. He also spoke fluent English. "I experienced such bad racism in Italy that going to the UK felt like my only chance to be accepted and do something useful.".
He walked most of the way from Italy to France with another group of refugees. "Most of the time I was just putting one foot in front of the other but sometimes it would just hit me, what had happened in Afghanistan and how not just me but also hundreds of thousands of other normal people had been reduced to something that felt less than human. There were moments on that journey when I thought, if I die here, nobody will know what happened to me. I’m nobody, nothing. I barely exist.".
He describes his time in the migrant camps in Calais waiting to cross to the UK as "the most degrading, humiliating experience you could imagine". He says there was no violence inside the camps from the Kurdish smugglers running the place, "but once you start the journey to the boat, that is when it starts". He says that on his first attempt at crossing the Channel, the boat was in such a bad condition that the smugglers were beating people to make them get onboard. "I paid them £1,800 for the crossing and it took nine attempts to get to the UK." He doesn’t remember much about the journey itself, "because by that point I didn’t care if I lived or died. It felt like just another thing that was happening to me.".
When he finally arrived in the UK (he says he has no idea where he landed) on 16 April 2022, eight months after he had escaped Afghanistan, Pordale says he was treated "like a human being for the first time in months. But when I spoke to my mother I just wanted to get off the phone. I had caused them all these financial problems and all this worry. They were alone in Turkey, and I had failed them.".
He was taken to an asylum hotel in Coventry, "where water was running down the walls and the toilets were broken", he says. "After the first month I just felt myself slipping into this deep depression. I thought, this can’t be my life.".
At his asylum accommodation, Pordale had come into contact with the Red Cross, and he started walking three hours back and forth each day to one of their drop-in centres to volunteer as an English teacher. "In Afghanistan it never would have occurred to me to do something purely to help someone else, but I discovered volunteering was something I loved," he says. "Just to feel active and useful and part of something, it brought me alive again.".
He also knew that his fluent English was the reason he had been treated so humanely by the immigration officials he had met since he got off the boat. "I could express what I’d been through. I could form a connection," he says. "I wanted to help other people to do that too.".
His manager at the Red Cross put him forward for an interview for an academic research programme looking at the barriers that refugees faced accessing higher education. He was shocked to learn that he was allowed to apply to study at UK universities, so he applied for five undergraduate courses across the country.
Meanwhile, he was moved by the Home Office from Coventry to Stockton-on-Tees, where he started volunteering at Citizens Advice, helping local people navigate problems with benefits and jobseeking. "I would sit there and local people would tell me it was all the immigrants’ fault that they couldn’t get a job, and they should all go back to where they’d come from. I would say, ‘Well, I’m a refugee,’ and they’d say, ‘Oh not you, the others.’".
Pordale was profoundly shocked by the poverty and desperation he saw in Stockton. "Many people were living in worse conditions than people in rural Afghanistan," he says. "So much poverty! Some people would sit and cry because they hadn’t eaten in three days. They felt that nobody cared about them and they were right.".
When protests kicked off in Middlesborough over the summer, Pordale watched the TV coverage of people attacking buildings housing asylum seekers and recognised some of the people he had helped get universal credit or housing benefit. "They were only believing what they’d been told, but they were angry with the wrong people, and the damage the riots have caused to the mental health of many refugees is huge.".
At the beginning of 2023, he was told he had been awarded a full scholarship to study politics and international studies at the University of Warwick. It was "the most miraculous thing that has ever happened to me", he says. He started university in September 2023 with "no money, no clothes, no suitcase", but now the campus feels like home. "I know everyone here," he says. "From the lecturers to the cleaners, everyone is my family." He intends to stay at Warwick to get a PhD and then spend his life trying to open up higher education opportunities to refugees and asylum seekers.
The first week he enrolled he also joined the university’s Student Action for Refugees group and is now the president. "I went back to the same asylum hotel I was first taken to in Coventry, but this time to teach English," he says. Sometimes he thinks back to his life a few years ago and can’t believe what he has been through. "The idea I could become a refugee overnight would have seemed crazy," he says. "But laws, governments, your rights, they can all disappear in a second and all you’re left with is yourself. I just want to make the best of every chance I have to live a good life.". Politicians can’t expect cricket to clear up mess they left in Afghanistan (The Times – opinion)
The Times [1/15/2025 5:00 PM, Mike Atherton, 714K, Negative]
When 160 parliamentarians sent a letter recently asking the ECB to condemn the Taliban’s abhorrent treatment of women in Afghanistan — which the governing body have done — and to consider a boycott of the forthcoming match against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy — which, if the government does not insist on one, is unlikely to happen — there was, predictably, no analysis therein of how the present mess came to pass.In response, the ECB could have asked the political class to look in the mirror and reflect on the Foreign Affairs committee’s report on the American’s, the UK’s and its allies’ catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, and the abject political failure at that time, which paved the way for the rapid return of the Taliban, and the medieval policies towards women that have ensued.The report, fittingly called “Missing in action”, is not just a sobering read, but one that should leave any right-minded person seething with anger. It is an analysis in three parts, dealing with the (lack of) planning and preparation; the chaotic withdrawal itself, and proposals for what the UK’s policy towards Afghanistan should be in future.It is totally damning. It makes clear that, despite being forewarned more than a year in advance of America’s planned withdrawal, the UK government failed to take President Trump’s announcement in February 2020 seriously; made only limited attempts to influence, relied instead on wishful thinking that America would change its mind, and was rudderless, with key personnel on holiday, when the moment came.Five weeks after the prime minister, in July 2021, announced that there was no military path to victory for the Taliban, they occupied Kabul. Of the three categories eligible for evacuation, there was no plan for those in the third — Afghans who had supported the UK mission, such as judges, journalists and activists, but who were not directly employed by the UK. It was only after Kabul fell, that attention turned to this highly vulnerable group.The government’s future policy towards Afghanistan? The select committee’s recommendations were clear, reckoning that “attempts to isolate the new regime entirely may only worsen the situation for the Afghan people”. Help should be targeted to minimise the scale of the humanitarian disaster, they said, including engagement with Afghan civil society, which remains the current government’s position.The ECB have, belatedly, condemned the Taliban’s gender apartheid. They have called for the ICC to act in a coordinated way to pressurise the Afghanistan Cricket Board to reinstate women’s cricket and to fund and support the Afghan women’s cricketers, who are in Melbourne at present, to enable them to play as an Afghan refugee team. They have asked the ICC to withhold funding from the Afghanistan Cricket Board and make membership of the ICC conditional.It could be argued the ECB are, unwittingly no doubt, following the advice laid down by the select committee, which called for “targeted outreach to Afghan civil society… to protect the country’s civil society ecosystem.” Pushing for recognition of an Afghan refugee team and a return of women’s cricket, albeit small progress in the context of the widespread violation of women’s rights, would at least be within the sport’s power to help.Three years ago, when the Taliban returned to power, I argued that cricket should hold the door open for Afghanistan, before the darkness closed in, and that it would be worth pausing and exploring all options before turning our backs on Afghanistan cricket and casting it into the wilderness for good.Since then, though, the ICC has sat on its hands and done nothing to help the cause of Afghan women cricketers. This was a point made forcibly only on Tuesday by one of the refugee cricketers in Melbourne, Firooza Amiri, who had to burn her cricket kit before fleeing the country for a new life in Australia.She told the BBC that they had not heard from the ICC since arriving in the country. She said they remained proud of the men’s team, but demanded equal recognition for her own. “Cricket can break boundaries, so we want to keep hopes alive — we want to play and educate,” she said. They will play an exhibition match on January 30, their first together since fleeing Afghanistan.In the absence of a coherent, strategic international approach, cricket’s power is limited over an issue that clearly dwarfs it, and talking to those with knowledge on the ground is tricky, because it is hard to know who has links with the regime or not. To this end, I spoke this week with Najiba Sanjar, an Afghan refugee now in Sweden, whose credentials as a women’s rights activist and independent voice are impeccable.After working for an NGO in the northeastern region of Afghanistan for 14 years, and then in Kabul, Sanjar fled her homeland with her husband and five sons on September 18, 2021, following the Taliban’s return. Today, she works in an educational centre for the Swedish government, and looks on in despair. A sporting boycott, she thinks, would be symbolic, but would have little practical impact on the Taliban.Shortly after Rory Stewart returned from the country in August 2024, he gave his thoughts on his Rest is Politics podcast, arguing that the best policy is to support ordinary Afghans and hope that civil society, built up over 25 or 30 years, will gradually exert pressure. “I don’t think the UK wagging its finger will have any impact at all,” he said. Still, 160 politicians wagged their fingers last week, framing one of the biggest foreign policy failures of recent times into a debate over a cricket match.Lest we forget, there is no doubt where responsibility lies for what the Foreign Affairs committee’s report called “a tragedy for Afghanistan, marking the biggest reversal in the rights of women and girls in a generation”. Levers over the Taliban disappeared with our departure from the country and it remains a puzzle why some politicians think England’s cricketers can clear up the gigantic mess we left behind. Pakistan
Pakistan’s premier welcomes World Bank’s 10-year funding plan of $20 billion (AP)
AP [1/15/2025 9:11 AM, Staff, 33392K, Positive]
Pakistan’s prime minister on Wednesday welcomed the first-of-its-kind agreement with the World Bank under which Islamabad will get $20 billion in funding in 10 years to invest in renewable energy, education, and social sectors.
In a post on the X platform, Shehbaz Sharif said the agreement, called the Country Partnership Framework for Pakistan or CPF "reflects the World Bank’s confidence in Pakistan’s economic resilience and potential.".
Pakistan in 2023 nearly defaulted on the payment of foreign debts when International Monetary Fund rescued it by agreeing to a $3 billion bailout to Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan secured a new $7 billion loan deal from IMF. Since then, the country’s economy has started improving with weekly inflation coming down from 27% in 2023 to 1.8% last week. Sharif has vowed to reduce dependence on foreign loans in the coming years.
The World Bank’s lending for Pakistan will start in 2026.
"Our new decade-long partnership framework for Pakistan represents a long-term anchor for our joint commitment with the Government to address some of the most acute development challenges facing the country: child stunting, learning poverty, its exceptional exposure to the impacts of climate change, and the sustainability of its energy sector," said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, in a statement Tuesday.
The latest development comes when Pakistan is trying to overcome one of the worst economic crises in its history with loans from the International Monetary Fund and other friendly countries, including China, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan welcomes World Bank’s $20 billion lending pledge (VOA)
VOA [1/15/2025 2:25 PM, Ayaz Gul, 2717K, Neutral]
Pakistan confirmed on Wednesday that the World Bank has pledged to lend $20 billion over the next decade, commencing in 2026 under its Country Partnership Framework, to help address the impoverished country’s acute development challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif applauded what he described as the lender’s "first-ever" pledge of its kind, saying the program is intended to develop child nutrition, education, clean energy and climate resilience to boost private sector growth.
The Country Partnership Framework "reflects the World Bank’s confidence in Pakistan’s economic resilience and potential," Sharif said on the social media platform X. "We look forward to strengthening our partnership as we align our efforts for creating lasting opportunities for our people.".
The cash-strapped South Asian nation has been struggling to tackle serious economic challenges for several years and is currently relying on a $7 billion bailout loan program from the International Monetary Fund. Persistent political instability in Pakistan, rising militant attacks, and devastating flooding in 2022 have further strained the troubled economy.
"Our new decadelong partnership framework for Pakistan represents a long-term anchor for our joint commitment with the government to address some of the most acute development challenges facing the country," said World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine.The U.S.-based lender stated that the country’s annual commitments under the partnership "are expected to remain in the $1.5 billion to $2 billion range" from 2026 onward. It added that the loans will depend on available funding and the fulfillment of project requirements.
"The pace of economic growth and structural transformation has been long stunted by distortive policies that benefit only a few, who have historically coalesced to oppose growth-oriented reforms as well as increases in progressive public spending in human capital and basic services for the poorest," the World Bank partnership documented stated.
It added that Pakistan must change its current development model to reduce poverty and achieve shared prosperity on a livable planet.
"We are focused on prioritizing investment and advisory interventions that will help crowd in much-needed private investment in sectors critical for Pakistan’s sustainable growth and job creation," said Zeeshan Sheikh, International Finance Corporation country manager for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan from power in 2022 and his subsequent imprisonment over contested corruption charges have plunged Pakistan into a political crisis that experts say is hampering government attempts to attract domestic and foreign investments.
The World Bank’s document highlights that the South Asian nation, home to over 240 million people, ranks among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change and natural disasters worldwide.
It noted that climate change will increasingly strain livelihoods, food security, productivity, and growth caused by rising extreme heat, air pollution, and altered water availability and precipitation.
"These risks can significantly compromise development in an already fiscally constrained environment and make sustained progress in poverty reduction and human development even more challenging than it is today," the World Bank stated. PIA, Pakistan’s national airline, in trouble over disturbing social media ad (CNN)
CNN [1/15/2025 11:00 AM, Jack Guy, 57114K, Neutral]
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is getting a bumpy ride over a promotional graphic that appears to evoke a terror attack on Paris.
The graphic, posted on X on January 10 to publicize the airline’s renewed flights to the French capital, shows a passenger jet flying toward the Eiffel Tower, alongside the tagline: "Paris, we’re coming today.".
While the graphic was intended to promote new twice-weekly flights between Islamabad and Paris, social media users quickly drew parallels with the 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and called on the airline to rethink its approach.
"Fire your marketing manager," wrote one, while another asked: "Who thought this ad was a good idea?".
Omar Quraishi, a former media adviser to Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, also questioned the state-run airline in a post on X.
"Did the airline management not vet this? Did the idiot who designed this graphic not see a PIA plane heading for the Eiffel Tower? One of Europe’s iconic landmarks," he wrote.
"Truly speechless," he wrote. "And it’s still there!".
According to Pakistani media, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into how the ad was approved for publication.
Despite the controversy, the first PIA flight from Islamabad to Paris in four and a half years touched down safely on January 11, according to a post from the airline on X.
A special plane marked with "commemorative decals" was used for the flight, the airline said in another post, adding that it "was pleasantly greeted by the airport workers.".
CNN has contacted PIA for comment.
This is not the first time the airline has attracted international headlines in recent years.
In 2019, PIA announced that it was cracking down on what it termed the "excess weight" of some of its cabin crew.
A memo distributed to approximately 1,800 cabin crew said they had six months to slim down to required limits or face being grounded.
And in 2020, PIA grounded almost a third of its pilots after a government investigation revealed that hundreds across the country had fake licenses and were not qualified to fly. Pakistan PM orders inquiry after national airline ad accused of evoking 9/11 imagery (The Guardian)
The Guardian [1/16/2025 12:49 AM, Hannah Ellis-Petersen, 83M, Negative]
Pakistan’s prime minister has ordered an investigation after the country’s national airline released an advert that drew accusations that it evoked imagery of the 9/11 attacks.
The advert was released by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last week to celebrate the resumption of flights to Paris, which had been suspended for four years over safety concerns about its pilots.
But the PR campaign, which depicted a plane headed towards the Eiffel Tower with the tagline “Paris, we’re coming today”, was soon criticised for an uncomfortable resemblance to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, when planes struck the twin towers in New York.
Pakistani’s finance minister, Ishaq Dar, called the advert “stupidity” and confirmed that the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had directed a probe into the scandal. “The prime minister has directed [authorities] to investigate who conceived this ad,” Dar told a parliamentary session this week.
Omar Quraishi, a former political media adviser, said on X that he was “truly speechless” that the advert had been approved. “Did the airline management not vet this?” he said.
PIA has been approached for comment. The airline has not responded to the controversy since releasing the ads on X on 10 January.
Pakistan is not without its links to the September 11 bombings. Osama bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida who carried out the attacks, was found to have been hiding in Pakistan before being killed by US forces in 2011.
The advert is just one of several missteps taken by PIA. The airline was banned by the EU regulator for over four years after it emerged that nearly a third of its pilots had cheated in their exams and failed to follow safety procedures. It remains banned by the UK and the United States.
In 2017, the company attracted scandal after PIA staff members sacrificed a goat on the tarmac for good luck. India
India Panel Seeks Legal Action Against Person in US Murder Plot (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [1/15/2025 6:16 AM, Saket Sundria, 21617K, Neutral]
An Indian government panel recommended legal action against an individual after investigating information from the US about alleged crimes.While a government statement Wednesday didn’t disclose details of the crimes, the case involves an alleged attempted murder of a Sikh activist in the US. Prosecutors in the US in November accused an Indian government official of directing a plot to kill the activist. New Delhi appointed a committee in November 2023 to investigate the allegations.The government said Wednesday the committee recommended “expeditious” legal action against an individual who had earlier criminal links. The panel pursued leads from the US and also examined several officials from different agencies, it said.The committee was formed after US authorities shared information relating to “some organized criminal groups, terrorist organizations, drug peddlers, etc., who undermined the security interests of both India and the US,” the government said.Bloomberg News previously reported the investigation panel had concluded rogue operatives not authorized by the government had been involved in the plot. India panel calls for legal action against individual after US accusations in foiled murder plot (Reuters)
Reuters [1/15/2025 12:25 PM, Tanvi Mehta, 48128K, Negative]
India said on Wednesday that a panel set up to investigate Washington’s accusations of Indian involvement in a foiled murder plot on U.S. soil against a prominent activist had recommended legal action against an unnamed person.The U.S. has been pushing India to look into the Justice Department’s claim that an unnamed Indian intelligence official directed plans to assassinate dual Canadian-American citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist in 2023.The home (interior) ministry said on Wednesday that the committee had looked into activities of "some organised criminal groups, terrorist organisations, drug peddlers, etc., who undermined the security interests of both India and the U.S.".India has said little publicly since announcing in November 2023 it would formally investigate the claims, and has separately continued a diplomatic dispute with Canada over the June 2023 assassination of another Sikh leader.The committee has "recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry," the ministry said in a statement.The statement did not elaborate further on the identity of the person, but said the committee also asked for legal action to "be completed expeditiously".The U.S. welcomes "this constructive first step and looks forward to seeing legal action taken in the Indian system," White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said.The U.S. Department of Justice had charged Vikash Yadav, an ex-Indian intelligence official, with leading the 2023 plot to murder Pannun. The U.S. indictment was unsealed in October.A lawyer representing Yadav declined to comment on the report. India Achieves ‘Historic’ Space Docking, Key for Future Missions (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [1/16/2025 2:54 AM, Eltaf Najafizada, 5.5M, Positive]
India said it has successfully executed the first space docking experiment, becoming only the fourth country in the world to master a critical technology required for other ambitious projects.“Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment,” Indian Space Research Organisation said in a post on X on Friday. “Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,” it added in a separate post.
The mission is a key step toward meeting the country’s ambitions to build its own space station and carry out a manned mission to the moon. The US, Russia and China are the only other nations that have mastered docking capabilities.
For the Space Docking Experiment mission, or SpaDeX, India had put into orbit two small satellites on Dec. 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Andhra Pradesh state. The technology allows India to transfer payloads, lunar samples, or eventually humans in space from one satellite or spacecraft to another, Jitendra Singh, the country’s space minister, said after the launch last month.Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants India to be a space power. In 2023, it became the first country to land a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, and is among a small group of nations with probes studying the sun.
In a post on X, Modi said the docking success is a “significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.” India’s ISRO carries out successful space docking mission (Reuters)
Reuters [1/16/2025 2:54 AM, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, 5.2M, Positive]
India on Thursday became the fourth nation in the world to achieve space docking, a technological milestone that underscores its ambitions to expand its share in the rapidly growing $400 billion global space market.
At around 9 a.m. IST (0330 GMT), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) carried out the highly anticipated Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), a spokesperson for the agency said.
Two ISRO satellites, Target and Chaser — each roughly the size of a large refrigerator — successfully latched onto each other and unlatched after a series of complex orbital maneuvers.
The indigenous technology, crucial for satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary missions, positions India to play a significant role in the commercial and exploratory frontiers of space.
"India has ambitious missions planned and to achieve those this is an important technology we have to have. Various missions like building a space station need assembly in space, which is not possible without space docking," Indian astrophysicist Jayant Murthy said.
The mission was postponed twice earlier - first because the docking process needed further validation through ground simulations, and later because of an issue arising from excess drift between the satellites.
SpaDeX, launched on Dec. 30 from India’s main spaceport, used an Indian-made rocket to deploy the satellites into orbit. Among various payloads and experiments were eight cowpea seeds ISRO had sent to space onboard the rocket to study plant growth in microgravity conditions, which germinated within four days of the launch of the mission.
India on Thursday became the fourth nation in the world to achieve space docking, a technological milestone that underscores its ambitions to expand its share in the rapidly growing $400 billion global space market.
At around 9 a.m. IST (0330 GMT), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) carried out the highly anticipated Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), a spokesperson for the agency said.
Two ISRO satellites, Target and Chaser — each roughly the size of a large refrigerator — successfully latched onto each other and unlatched after a series of complex orbital maneuvers.
The indigenous technology, crucial for satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary missions, positions India to play a significant role in the commercial and exploratory frontiers of space.
"India has ambitious missions planned and to achieve those this is an important technology we have to have. Various missions like building a space station need assembly in space, which is not possible without space docking," Indian astrophysicist Jayant Murthy said.
The mission was postponed twice earlier - first because the docking process needed further validation through ground simulations, and later because of an issue arising from excess drift between the satellites.
SpaDeX, launched on Dec. 30 from India’s main spaceport, used an Indian-made rocket to deploy the satellites into orbit. Among various payloads and experiments were eight cowpea seeds ISRO had sent to space onboard the rocket to study plant growth in microgravity conditions, which germinated within four days of the launch of the mission.
The successful SpaDeX mission "is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come," Modi said on X on Thursday.
ISRO is focused on deep-space exploration and enabling private companies to commercialise the sector, with projects that include solar studies, orbital astronaut missions and planetary defence, in collaboration with NASA.
The stakes are significant. While the global commercial space market is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, India’s current share is just 2%, or $8 billion. The government aims to grow this to $44 billion by 2040. India’s navy expands fleet with eyes on Indian Ocean rivalry (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera [1/15/2025 6:47 AM, Staff, 19588K, Neutral]
India’s navy has launched a submarine, destroyer and a frigate simultaneously as it eyes growing rivalry with China in the Asia Pacific region.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a commissioning ceremony for the domestically built vessels in Mumbai on Wednesday, said his country was “becoming a major maritime power of the world”. His country increasingly sees itself competing with China for strategic influence across South Asia.“We’re taking a big step towards getting the navy ready for this century,” Modi stated.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the strategic importance previously dominated by the Atlantic Ocean is shifting to the Indian Ocean. Hence, the region is becoming a centre of international rivalry.Amid this competition, India is pushing to modernise its mostly Soviet-era weaponry and expand its defence industry.In 2024, India spent a record $15bn on domestic defence manufacturing, according to the Ministry of Defence, an increase of some 17 percent on the previous year.As part of that rising investment, India is rushing to expand its naval fleet. The vessels launched on Wednesday were built by India’s state-run shipyards.“The commissioning of three major naval combatants marks a significant leap forward in realising India’s vision of becoming a global leader in defence manufacturing and maritime security,” Modi said.New Delhi has plans to expand its warship and submarine fleet from about 150 to 170 over the next decade.India commissioned its first home-built aircraft carrier in 2022 to counter regional rival China’s much more extensive and growing fleet.However, India remains one of the largest arms importers in the world, despite Modi’s efforts to reduce dependence on Russia, its primary military hardware supplier.New Delhi has also signed major arms deals, and approved India-based defence production ventures, with the United States, Israel and Spain, among others.India is also in talks with Paris for multibillion-dollar deals to buy French-made Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines. India police arrest dozens over alleged rape and sexual abuse of teen girl over 5 year period (CBS News)
CBS News [1/15/2025 6:31 AM, Arshad R. Zargar, 57114K, Negative]
Police in the southern Indian state of Kerala have arrested 49 of 64 men accused of sexually abusing an 18-year-old girl over the last five years. The girl, who has not been identified, has reportedly told investigators that she was sexually abused and gang raped multiple times since the age of 13.
The men accused of the attacks include a childhood friend of the girl, along with neighbors and family friends, police told CBS News’ partner network, BBC News. There are at least five students from her college and former classmates from her school among the accused, according to Indian outlet The News Minute.
The majority of the accused are themselves either teenagers or in their early 20s, according to The Times of India.
"Forty-nine people have been taken into custody," Pathanamthitta district Deputy Superintendent of Police Nandakumar S. told the AFP news agency on Wednesday. "We have identified the remaining 14 and they would be arrested soon.".
The alleged abuse started five years ago when the girl’s neighbor allegedly molested her and took sexually explicit photographs and videos, which he then shared with others and used to blackmail the girl as he continued to abuse her.
Police have told Indian media outlets that the girl was allegedly gang raped at least three times over the past five years.
The alleged abuse came to light last month when a team of counsellors working under a government program visited her house.
"She was given counselling, and she opened up before a psychologist, narrating the sexual abuse she has been facing since the age of 13," N. Rajeev, head of the national Child Welfare Committee, was quoted as telling the Indian Express.
The Kerala Police have tasked a team of 25 officers with investigating the allegations.
At least 18 cases have been registered in relation to the girl’s alleged abuse so far under various Indian laws — including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — which is intended to prevent crimes against people from the lower castes and tribes in India’s centuries-old social hierarchy.
The victim of the mass abuse in Kerala is a member of the Dalit community, which is the lowest caste in India. Dalits have faced widespread discrimination and abuse for many years.
Criminal cases have also been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, as the majority of the alleged abuse took place when the girl was a minor, Deputy Superintendent Nandakumar told the BBC’s Hindi language service.
The horrific scale of the alleged abuse has drawn national headlines in a country where an average of almost 90 rapes were reported every day in 2022, the most recent year for which national data is available. Many more are believed to go unreported. Carmakers in India plan EV onslaught in 2025 despite slowing global demand (Reuters)
Reuters [1/15/2025 9:35 PM, Aditi Shah and Nandan Mandayam, 48128K, Positive]
Automakers operating in India plan to launch close to a dozen new electric car models this year, many in the premium market, with longer driving ranges and faster charging times, to attract buyers as demand for EVs slows down globally.Electric cars will take centre stage at India’s five-day auto show in New Delhi starting Friday with models from new Vietnamese entrant Vinfast (0TL.F) shown alongside domestic brands Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.NS), and Mahindra & Mahindra (MAHM.NS) as well as global rivals BYD (002594.SZ), Toyota (7203.T) and Hyundai (005380.KS).India’s EV market leaders Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) and JSW-MG Motor, part-owned by China’s SAIC Motor (600104.SS) will showcase an expanded line-up in the world’s third-largest car market where tighter emission norms starting from 2027 are forcing a move to cleaner cars.India’s EV market is small, with electric models making up about 2.5% of the 4.3 million cars sold in 2024 as high prices and a patchy charging network hold back buyers.The government wants to grow this to 30% by 2030.Globally, electric car sales growth slowed to 13% in 2024 from a year ago but crossed 10 million units for the first time, according to data from research firm RhoMotion.While EV sales growth in India is also slowing, rising 20% in 2024 from a year ago to about 100,000 units, it outpaced the overall car market growth of 5% over the same period.Auto industry executives say new models with longer ranges and faster charging times could lift demand, with analysts forecasting electric car sales in India to double this year.The first EVs in India, mostly from market leader Tata Motors, were gasoline cars converted to electric, delivering a range of up to 300 kilometres (186 miles) on a single charge, which many found inadequate for inter-city journeys.The majority of new launches are designed as EVs from the start at a minimum range of 400 km. Some automakers, such as Mahindra, are offering more than 600 km and fast charging from 20%-80% in under 20 minutes.Mahindra’s two electric SUV launches for this year are priced at $22,000 to $35,000. The average price of a car in India is around $12,000, with more expensive models growing at a faster pace than affordable ones.EV maker VinFast, which is building a car factory in southern India, will display its mini-SUV VF3, a three-row MPV, the VF9, among others."India’s burgeoning middle class, coupled with strong government incentives to promote EV adoption, makes it a natural focus for VinFast’s global expansion," the carmaker said.South Korea’s Hyundai (HYUN.NS) will showcase the India-built electric version of its popular Creta SUV, which it hopes will help take on rivals, while BYD will display its Sealion 7 electric SUV.Maruti, India’s largest carmaker by sales, will display its first EV, the e Vitara SUV which will launch later this year. The car has been jointly developed by Maruti’s parent Suzuki Motor (7269.T) and Toyota.Some carmakers also plan to show other clean fuel technologies such as plug-in hybrid cars, flex-fuel models, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and gas-based cars alongside EVs."The path to a faster electric takeoff really works better if you have all electrified vehicles being encouraged in a proportionate manner," said Vikram Gulati, country head and executive vice president for corporate affairs and governance at Toyota’s India unit. Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan out of danger after stabbing at Mumbai home (Reuters)
Reuters [1/16/2025 4:09 AM, Sudipto Ganguly and Shilpa Jamkhandikar, 48128K, Negative]Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed repeatedly by an intruder at his home in Mumbai on Thursday, but doctors treating him said he was out of danger after surgery.Khan, 54, was "on the path to complete recovery" after receiving stab wounds on his spine, neck and hand, the doctors told reporters."He sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal chord due to a lodged knife in the spine. Surgery was performed to remove the knife and also repair the leaking spinal fluid," said Nitin Dange, one of the doctors operating on Khan.Khan was attacked just after midnight when he tried to stop the intruder, believed to be a burglar, from entering his apartment in the upscale neighbourhood of Bandra, police and local media said.A female employee at the apartment was also attacked and was being treated, police said.Among the country’s most bankable stars, Khan, 54, is the son of India’s former cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore. He is married to actor Kareena Kapoor, and his daughter from a previous marriage, Sara, is also a Bollywood actor.Police had identified the perpetrator and had launched a search for him, senior police official Dikshit Gedam told reporters. "The accused attempted to enter through a fire escape. It appears to be a robbery attempt," he said.Khan, who has featured in more than 70 films and television series, is a regular on the red carpet. He and Kapoor have two young sons and are one of Bollywood’s most well-known couples.Khan has acted in several notable films and series, including Sacred Games, Netflix’s first Indian production, which released in 2018.Film stars and opposition leaders called for police to beef up security measures in the city."If such high-profile people with ... security can be attacked in their homes, what could happen to common citizens?" Clyde Crasto, spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party, asked on X.India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies won November elections in the western state of Maharashtra, the capital of which is Mumbai.Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt also called for a greater police presence in the suburb home to many in the film industry."The city, and especially the queen of the suburbs, have never felt so unsafe before," she said on X, using a popular description for the trendy Bandra area. India’s Hotels Can’t Surrender to the Marriage Police (Bloomberg – opinion)
Bloomberg [1/15/2025 5:00 PM, Mihir Sharma, 21617K, Positive]
Meerut, an hour’s drive from Delhi and home to a mere couple million people, is what in India’s crowded north is considered a small town. There isn’t a lot to recommend it to visitors, and it doesn’t exactly receive hordes of tourists. And yet, the city’s hotels have been all over the news recently.The Oyo Hotels chain, backed by Softbank Group Corp., announced last week that it would no longer allow unmarried couples to check into its hotels in Meerut and might extend that policy to other towns. Bookings could in theory be cancelled if guests can’t provide proof of their relationship.Naturally, the policy has set off something of a firestorm. It has also underscored how companies may increasingly struggle to deal with India’s deepening social and political divisions.Oyo said it “respected” individual freedoms and personal liberty, but also felt bound to respond to complaints from what it described as “civil society.” Few have any doubt that, in this case, the term is a euphemism for the socially conservative right-wing groups that have claimed growing political influence under India’s Hindu nationalist government.Companies everywhere must manage local politics, of course. But corporations that operate nationwide can’t afford to give too much away. Compromises in one part of the country can diminish trust in one’s brand elsewhere. Isn’t branding, at its core, the promise of a uniform experience?True, Oyo has thus far limited the new rules to one city. But activists in the much more prominent tech hub of Bengaluru are now demanding a similar ban there. Will Oyo be forced to give in? And will the company expect couples to keep track of when they need to bring their marriage license as they travel from city to city across India?When Oyo launched about a decade ago, its promise was the exact opposite. Checking into a budget hotel in a strange town with one’s partner used to be a tense experience; couples never knew if they’d be the target of harassment or be denied a room. Oyo, as one Indian columnist put it, “democratized access to private spaces for a burgeoning young population.” That was the company’s core value and the primary source of its appeal.Oyo isn’t the first firm to be tripped up by India’s internal divisions. Drivers for food-delivery service Zomato Ltd., the first app-based startup to be added to the benchmark BSE Sensex, have sometimes objected to handling pork or beef dishes, on religious grounds. Like Oyo, Zomato sometimes tried too hard: It briefly announced a new segregated service for vegetarians last year before a national outcry forced it to backtrack.Economists and officials sometimes argue that “mass services” — including hospitality chains and delivery services — can provide the jobs and growth that the country’s lackluster manufacturing sector cannot. Many of these companies have scaled up swiftly, are used by tens of millions of people, and include some of India’s fastest-growing employers. And they, in turn, tout the vast size of the potential market to entice investors.With size comes with diversity, however. And, unlike toy makers or sellers of detergent, service-based companies must deal with customers as people. There’s no point achieving scale at the cost of your brand’s core appeal.In any case, companies that attempt to keep up with unpredictable political tides can spend too much time over-correcting. It is ironic, perhaps, that Oyo decided to wade into social policy the same week that Meta Platforms Inc.’s Mark Zuckerberg reversed course on eight years of content moderation. Policies begun for political reasons will have to be abandoned for political reasons. The biggest loser is often the company caught in the middle.Indians expect great things from a startup sector that seems dynamic and world-class. These firms, in turn, are counting on India’s vast scale to ensure their fortunes. If they don’t learn to manage India’s diversity, however, it almost certainly won’t. NSB
Bangladesh eyes shakeup of key institutions after PM Hasina’s exit (Nikkei Asia)
Nikkei Asia [1/16/2025 5:17 AM, Masum Billah, 1.3M, Neutral]
Bangladesh should limit future leaders to a maximum of two terms, slap restrictions on police use of force and create separate houses of parliament to divide lawmaking powers.
Those are among the recommendations from a reform panel tasked with overhauling the troubled country’s key institutions in the wake of a bloody uprising last summer that ousted then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A caretaker government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus appointed six commissions after Hasina’s exit to propose changes for the South Asian nation’s electoral and constitutional systems, police, judiciary and anti-corruption agency.
Several of those commissions submitted their reports on Wednesday as Bangladesh gears up for elections that Yunus has said could happen by the end of 2025, although some opposition parties are calling for earlier polls.
Hasina, who fled to neighboring India as unrest paralyzed the country, had been in power since 2009 and was elected to a fresh term early last year after elections widely dismissed as rigged in favor of her ruling Awami League party.
The 77-year-old, who also served one term starting in the mid-1990s, was the world’s longest-serving female leader. Facing a raft of charges in Bangladesh, Hasina has been accused of running an iron-fisted regime characterized by extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and massive corruption.
"These commissions are important," Hasanuzzaman Choudhury, a professor of political science at the University of Dhaka, told Nikkei Asia. "People expect reforms in the constitution, foreign policy, governance and the electoral system. These commissions are dismantling a long-standing fascist framework and reconstructing the nation."
Apart from term limits and more power-sharing between the prime minister and largely ceremonial president, the reform proposals also call for Bangladesh’s 350-member unicameral legislature to be replaced by a 400-seat lower house and 105-member upper house of parliament with proportional representation for parties. The constitutional commission called for 100 lower-house seats to be reserved for women -- double the number in the current legislature.
A mooted National Constitutional Council, comprising the prime minister, president and opposition leaders, would oversee appointments to the election commission and other key agencies.The country’s election agency should have the power to postpone national elections if they appear to be tainted by fraud or manipulation, and should itself be subject to more stringent rules and accountability, the electoral reform commission said.
It also proposed barring political parties from maintaining teacher, student or labor wings, and abolishing foreign branches of Bangladeshi political parties. Hasina’s Awami League had a powerful student wing that was accused of taking part in deadly violence against protesters last summer.
"This is easier said [than done], but we have to do this," commission head Badiul Alam Majumdar said of the changes.
The police commission outlined a five-step plan for the use of force in dispersing crowds, designed in accordance with United Nations Peacekeeping principles. More than 800 people were killed in last summer’s protests with police and security services facing allegations that they fired live rounds at demonstrators
The interim government said it plans to start talks next month with political parties about the recommendations, which also include scrapping a rule that protects the prime minister from no-confidence motions.
But the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expressed reservations over making it easier to boot leaders from power.
"MPs should have the freedom to express their opinions on all matters, regardless of party affiliation, except impeachment, the budget and national security," Salahuddin Ahmed, a senior BNP politician, told Nikkei. "While anyone can propose alternatives, a consensus among political parties is essential," he added. Bangladesh top court acquits ex-PM Khaleda Zia in corruption case (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera [1/15/2025 7:50 AM, Staff, 19588K, Negative]
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has acquitted ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in a 2008 corruption case, overturning a previous 10-year prison sentence.In 2018, the country’s High Court had convicted Zia and others of misappropriating funds meant for orphans when she was last prime minister, from 2001 to 2006.But following an appeal, a five-judge panel led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Wednesday acquitted Zia and all other defendants in the case, including her son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairperson Tarique Rahman.“The case was so vile that both those who appealed and those who couldn’t appeal have all been acquitted,” defence lawyer Zainul Abedin told the press after the verdict.The verdict is the latest judicial victory for 79-year-old Zia and her family from the BNP, one of two main groups that have dominated the country’s politics.Last November, Zia was also acquitted in another corruption case in which she had been accused of misappropriation of 31.5 million taka ($260,000) from another trust in 2005.Earlier this month, she was flown to London to treat her health issues including liver cirrhosis and heart problems.Since August, Bangladesh has been ruled by an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following mass protests against her rule.Hasina’s toppling prompted the release of Zia from house arrest later in August. The former prime minister had suspended Zia’s jail term on health grounds in 2020, under the condition that her longtime rival refrain from travelling abroad and participating in politics.The BNP always maintained that the charges were politically motivated, accusing Hasina’s then-government of targeting Zia for political reasons.On Wednesday, Zia’s legal team expressed optimism that the Supreme Court’s ruling could pave the way for her to run in the next parliamentary elections, expected to be held late this year or early 2026.Last month, a high court also acquitted Rahman and others of a 2004 grenade attack on a rally of Hasina. Bangladesh’s top court clears way for former PM Khaleda Zia to run in new elections (The Independent)
The Independent [1/15/2025 6:48 AM, Alisha Rahaman Sarkar, 57769K, Negative]
Bangladesh’s top court has acquitted Khaleda Zia in the last remaining corruption case against her, paving the way for the former prime minister to contest elections.
The South Asian country was plunged into a political and economic crisis in August 2024 after months of protests led by students toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government, forcing the prime minister to flee to India and ending her 15-year rule.
The nation of some 170 million people is currently run by an interim administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has indicated that the next general election could be held at the end of this year or the first half of 2026.
An Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned a 10-year jail sentence handed down to Ms Zia in 2018 on charges of embezzling nearly $250,000 (£204,583) from an orphanage trust established when she became prime minister in 1991. The case had been filed by the anti-corruption commission in July 2008.
The court also cleared Ms Zia’s son and fellow accused, Tarique Rahman, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison as well. Mr Rahman, his mother’s heir apparent as leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party under the nation’s dynastic political system, has been living in the UK since Ms Hasina’s Awami League was elected to power in 2009.
The Supreme Court said the prosecution of the orphanage trust case was "malicious", the Daily Star reported.
Ms Zia’s lawyers said the verdict meant she could contest the next election. Bangladeshi law prohibits anyone imprisoned for over two years from running for political office for the next five years.
Ms Zia had faced a total of 17 years in prison, 10 years in this orphanage case and seven in the other corruption case in which she was acquitted after Ms Hasina’s ouster.
Her lawyers and party always denied any wrongdoing involving the trust and denounced the charges against Ms Zia as politically motivated.
Her lawyers told local media Ms Zia had been slapped with as many as 37 cases by the military regime from 2007 to 2008 and by the Hasina government. The charges included corruption, violence, arson, defamation, and sedition.
Ms Zia, 79, is ailing and traveled to London for medical treatment earlier this month. She is the widow of late president Ziaur Rahman and served as prime minister between 1991 and 1996 and again from June 2001 to October 2006.
BNP, the largest opposition party in Bangladesh, has been pressing the interim government for a clear plan to hold a national election.
Mirza Fakrhul Islam Alamgir, the party’s secretary general, this week urged the administration to take steps towards conducting the election by July or August this year.
"We have repeatedly stated that there’s no alternative to an elected government. It’s crucial for democracy," he said. "We urge the government, the election commission, and all political parties to take necessary steps to hold elections by that time in that greater national interest.".
Mr Yunus has insisted that elections can be held only after electoral reforms are put in place. Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman in September told Reuters that democracy should be restored within a year to a year-and-a-half, but urged patience. Tulip Siddiq ‘did not speak out’ when told 86 people were ‘disappeared’ in Bangladesh, lawyer says (The Telegraph)
The Telegraph [1/15/2025 3:57 PM, Neil Johnston and David Bergman, 57114K, Neutral]
Tulip Siddiq failed to speak out after being warned dozens of Bangladeshi citizens had been "disappeared" by her aunt’s authoritarian regime, The Telegraph can reveal.
The former anti-corruption minister was urged by the voluntary group Maayer Daak in 2022 to use her familial connections to Sheikh Hasina, the then prime minister of Bangladesh, to help free 86 men allegedly held in "secret detention cells".
Ms Siddiq, who resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s Government on Tuesday, did forward the concerns to a shadow minister but did not raise them publicly or offer to contact her aunt or members of the ruling Awami League party.Hasina was the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh and is now in India after being ousted last year after 15 years in power.
During her tenure, opponents and critics were arrested and secretly imprisoned. Some were even victims of extrajudicial killings.
Among those picked up was Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, a British-trained barrister, who was secretly detained for eight years before being released the day after Hasina fled the country.
Ms Siddiq has previously been criticised for not raising his case publicly. His family have also said that after the Labour MP was asked about him in 2017 police turned up at his family home in Dhaka.
An email seen by The Telegraph shows that Ms Siddiq was also urged to intervene in the cases of dozens of other men who were disappeared by the regime.
In April 2022, Sanjida Islam from Maayer Daak, which means "Mother’s Call" and comprises families of the disappeared in Bangladesh, wrote that she was advocating for the release of those "secretly detained, outside the criminal justice system, by government authorities" including her brother.
She wrote: "Maayer Daak is seeking your assistance specifically in seeking the freedom of 86 men, identified by Human Rights Watch (HRW), who were picked up by Bangladesh law enforcement authorities over the last ten years, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
"One of these 86 men, Shajedul Islam Sumon, was my brother. Maayer Daak represents many of the families whose relatives are included in this list.
"These men were never arrested by Bangladesh authorities, never brought to court. They were instead picked up by law enforcement authorities and detained in, as far as we understand, secret detention cells. We are hoping that they remain alive.".
Ms Siddiq was a prominent supporter of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, one of her constituents, who was detained in Iran and Ms Islam praised her efforts to free her.
However, Ms Islam said the charity was not appealing to her as constituents but because she was "in a unique position to assist the families of the disappeared in Bangladesh".
Ms Islam said that the Labour MP had a background in Amnesty International so she "must be against enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, or indeed anywhere else in the world".
She added in an email that as a UK MP she had the "freedom to speak out and get yourself heard, and with access that most people do not have".
The email continued: "You used to work for the Bangladesh Awami League, the ruling party in power before you became a Labour party councillor, and continue (according to reports) to have a close connection with the party."Your family members hold senior positions of power within the country.".
Ms Islam urged Ms Siddiq to speak with her family and pressure them for the release of those detained.
She wrote: "In the context of Bangladesh politics and because of the role your family has within it, if you speak out on our behalf about the 86 disappeared men listed by Human Rights Watch this could have a dramatic impact in pressuring the Bangladesh government to come clean, provide information on our disappeared relatives and free them.
"We also believe that your personal intervention on this issue with members of your family within the Bangladesh government – as well as with others within the Bangladesh government and law enforcement authorities who look up to you – could also help with their release.".
The charity did not receive a reply until three weeks later when her office said that parliamentary protocol dictated that MPs can only write on behalf of constituents.
She added she would pass on the concerns to the opposition frontbench.
"However, I understand that this is a serious issue affecting your family so I will pass on your correspondence to the shadow minister in the Opposition frontbench who covers Bangladesh so that they can raise this issue with the UK Government.".
Sanjida’s brother was picked up in December 2013, along with four opposition activists, by members of the elite law enforcement agency, Rapid Action Battalion, outside a construction site in the capital city, Dhaka. 14 years later, their whereabouts continue to remain unknown.
A preliminary report from the Commission on Disappearances, set up by the new interim government in Bangladesh, stated that it held the then-prime minister, "prima facie responsible for acts of enforced disappearance".
The disclosure will put fresh pressure on Ms Siddiq to resign as an MP after she was forced to step aside as the economic secretary to the Treasury.
Ms Siddiq quit after Sir Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser found she had inadvertently misled the public.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Siddiq admitted becoming a "distraction" from the Government’s agenda as she faced mounting corruption allegations.
Her resignation followed weeks of controversy over her ties to the political party led by her aunt.
She quit hours after Sir Laurie Magnus, No 10’s ethics adviser, urged Sir Keir to "consider her ongoing responsibilities" in light of the perception of a conflict of interest.
Today it was reported Ms Siddiq was facing a third investigation in Bangladesh.
Investigators are reportedly working on another probe involving Ms Siddiq having already opened two investigations.
Akhtar Hossain, director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, told Sky News the organisation was "preparing another investigation against Tulip Siddiq and her uncle Tarique Siddique for money laundering, power misuse, and illegally occupying Bangladesh government property".
Ms Siddiq is already being investigated over her alleged involvement in the embezzlement of funds linked to a £4 billion nuclear deal and also over claims she used her "influence" to secure plots for her family in a redevelopment project.
Michael Polak, who represented Mr Bin Quasem, said it was "heartbreaking" that Ms Siddiq did not speak out publicly about those who disappeared.
He said enforced disappearances happened on a "huge scale" and were used "as a tool of oppression by the Hasina regime".
Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem was secretly detained for eight years before being released the day before Sheikh Hasina fled the country - Indranil Mukherjee/AFP.
Mr Polak said: "Anyone with any knowledge about Bangladesh would have known they were being carried out by the repressive authorities and Ms Siddiq was provided with the evidence and has stated that she previously worked for Amnesty.
"Although there were good news stories about some of the disappeared surviving for up to eight years in the black sites under torturous conditions, such as my client barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, there was also dismay for many families when their disappeared loved ones never re-appeared.
"It is heartbreaking that Tulip did not speak out publicly to support Maayer Daak when her influence in Bangladesh could have saved those who now will never return to their families.".
Labour sources said parliamentary protocol meant that MPs do not normally raise cases for non-constituents and this was applicable in this case.
It is understood a Foreign Office minister raised this issue with the Bangladeshi High Commission. China, Sri Lanka agree more investment and economic cooperation (Reuters)
Reuters [1/15/2025 9:41 AM, Liz Lee, 48128K, Positive]
China and Sri Lanka agreed on more investment and economic cooperation on Wednesday as China’s President Xi Jinping met recently-elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Beijing.The countries signed 15 cooperation documents, including agreements on economic and technological development and aligning China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ with Sri Lanka’s 2030 digital economy blueprint.Specifics of the deals were not disclosed at the signing ceremony.Dissanayake’s visit to his country’s largest bilateral lender comes after first travelling to regional rival India.Dissanayake won a big majority in September’s election, pledging to tweak the terms of an International Monetary Fund rescue package, and on his leftist coalition’s plans to fight poverty and graft.Sri Lanka had been moving closer to China under the previous Rajapaksa government, leaning heavily on Chinese lending to build highways, a port, an airport and a coal power plant as part of Xi’s flagship cross-continent Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.Colombo secured a preliminary $10 billion bilateral debt deal rework with key lenders including China, Japan and India last June and a $12.5 billion bondholder deal in December.However, it needs direct agreements with China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank to lock in the deal to continue demonstrating progress to the IMF in restructuring its foreign debt to secure further disbursements from a $2.9 billion IMF bailout programme."I am willing to work with you, Mr President, to chart a new vision for the development of bilateral relations and promote new and greater achievements in China-Sri Lanka’s friendship and cooperation," Xi told Dissanayake on Wednesday, speaking at the Great Hall of the People.Welcoming more Chinese investment, Dissanayake told his host: "China has supported important and valuable infrastructure development in Sri Lanka via the Belt and Road Initiative and China has been and remains a key development partner."But during his visit to Delhi in December, Dissanayake struck a wide range of energy and security cooperation agreements with the other regional superpower, signalling his new government wants to become less reliant on Beijing.Sri Lanka’s economy has begun a tentative recovery, but the high cost of living is still a critical issue for many, especially the poor.China, the world’s second-largest economy, could give an economic helping hand by buying more Sri Lankan goods, of which it mostly buys tea, clothing, chemicals and other commodities, according to U.N. COMTRADE data, and through encouraging more Chinese tourists to consider holidaying there."It is necessary to strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the two sides and enhance new ties between the two peoples," Xi told Dissanayake, according to the Chinese state broadcaster. Sri Lanka Signs Landmark $3.7 Bn Deal With Chinese State Oil Giant (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [1/16/2025 12:00 AM, Staff, 1.4M, Neutral]
Sri Lanka has secured its biggest-ever foreign investment after signing a deal with Chinese state-run oil giant Sinopec, officials said on Thursday.
Sinopec has agreed to invest $3.7 billion to construct a "state-of-the-art oil refinery" with a capacity of 200,000 barrels in the southern Hambantota region, according to the Sri Lanka president’s media division.
"During President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s four-day state visit to China, Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone by securing the largest foreign direct investment to date," it said.
A "substantial portion" of the refinery’s output would be earmarked for export as part of efforts to shore up Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings, a statement said.
"This major investment from China is expected to bolster Sri Lanka’s economic growth while uplifting the livelihoods of low-income communities in the Hambantota area," it added.
The port of Hambantota was handed to a Beijing company on a 99-year lease for $1.12 billion in 2017 after Sri Lanka was unable to repay a huge Chinese loan, a controversial decision which raised questions about Chinese investments in the country.
Sri Lanka also defaulted on its foreign borrowings in 2022 during a crisis that caused months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.
China accounted for more than half the country’s bilateral debt at the time of the economic crash.
Leftist Dissanayake came to power in September and consolidated his position after his party won by a landslide in snap parliamentary polls last November.
His four-day visit to China comes after he was given a red-carpet welcome to India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first overseas trip as premier in December.
In a meeting with Dissanayake on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two countries "face a historical opportunity to build on the past and forge ahead".
The two sides should see ties from "a strategic perspective and build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future", Xi said, according to state media.
Sri Lanka had originally awarded the refinery project in 2019 to an Indian family-owned company based in Singapore, but terminated the agreement after the firm failed to start construction.
Officials signalled in 2023 that they would award the contract to Sinopec after another bidder pulled out.
Sri Lanka sits astride the world’s busiest shipping route, which links the Middle East and East Asia, giving its maritime assets strategic importance. Central Asia
Central Asian Migrants Say They’re Being Held In Russian Jails Without Access To Proper Food (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [1/15/2025 6:34 AM, Zarangez Navruzshoh, 1089K, Negative]
Migrant detention centers in Russia are running out of space after a crackdown on undocumented migrants following the deadly Crocus City Hall attack in March last year, which was blamed on Central Asian nationals.
The overcrowding, in particularly in the Sverdlovsk region in central Russia, had meant migrants awaiting deportation orders are now being housed in other holding facilities, such as local jails.
It is also leading to food shortages, with Central Asian migrants saying they have no access to "proper food.".
"We have not eaten a hot meal since the morning of December 26, [2024], when we were brought to this jail in the Pervouralsk district [of Sverdlovsk Province], because migrant [detention] centers were full," one migrant told RFE/RL by phone on January 10.
"[The authorities] have even banned packets of instant noodle soup, so our food consists only of bread and tea with sugar," the migrant said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The exact number of Central Asian workers currently incarcerated in the Sverdlovsk region is not known, but the two migrants who spoke to RFE/RL on behalf of several others say hundreds of foreigners were detained in large-scale police raids in late December 2024.
The terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall entertainment center near Moscow in March 2024 claimed 140 lives. Several Tajik citizens were arrested for alleged involvement in the attack.
The majority of those incarcerated in Sverdlovsk are workers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan who say they were rounded up on suspicion of violating immigration rules.
By law, foreigners detained in Russia for violating immigration rules must be held in special migrant detention facilities as they wait for court rulings on their cases or their deportation dates.
One of the two migrants that RFE/RL spoke to said that his residency permit expired on December 26, 2024, the day he was detained by police. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the migrant acknowledged he had failed to extend the document on time.
Several other in the group, however, said they had been detained by police for no valid reason.
Jail Cell
The migrants who were in contact with RFE/RL shared video footage of what they described as the jail cell where they are being held. The footage shows a small room with dirty walls and a high window covered with a metal mesh. The furniture is sparse, with bunk beds and a small table and benches. There is a sink in the corner, next to a toilet separated with a partition."Relatives of some of the migrants here brought food to prison, but the guards didn’t give it to us," one Central Asian migrant told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity. "The guards tell us that ‘it is a prison, not a migrant facility.’ We do understand that this is a jail, but we’re not prisoners and shouldn’t be treated like it.".
A representative of the Tajik consulate in Yekaterinburg, the capital of the Sverdlovsk region, confirmed claims that many migrants are being held in jails due to a lack of space in the detention centers.
"It is a temporary measure. They will be transferred to the migrant facilities when space becomes available there," said Yoqubjon Umarov, the deputy head of the Public Council, a body jointly organized by the consulate and the Tajik diaspora to help migrant workers in Sverdlovsk.
Russia hosts millions of migrant workers from Central Asia, where unemployment and poverty have been rampant since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.
Just four months after the attack on the Crocus City Hall, Moscow reported a record high number of deportations and entry refusals in an apparent anti-migrant drive that mostly targeted Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz citizens.
From January to July 2024, more than 143,000 people were denied entry to Russia, while nearly 93,000 people were deported from the country, marking a significant rise from the previous year, according to official figures released by Moscow. Kazakhstan to compensate oil overproduction under OPEC+ deal until end-June 2026, Ifx says (Reuters)
Reuters [1/15/2025 10:10 AM, Vladimir Soldatkin, 63029K, Negative]
Kazakhstan has promised to compensate for oil overproduction under the OPEC+ deal until the end of June 2026, Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday, citing the energy ministry, in line with earlier pledges.
OPEC said last month the compensation period for overproduction in 2024 would be extended until the end of June 2026.
Kazakhstan has been one of the laggards in the OPEC+ deal to curb oil production, persistently exceeding the group’s output quota. For the Central Asian country, that stands at 1.468 million barrels per day. Kyrgyz lender Keremet Bank to appeal after being hit with US sanctions (Reuters)
Reuters [1/16/2025 5:50 AM, Josh Boak, 63029K, Neutral]Kyrgyz lender Keremet Bank on Thursday said it would challenge a decision by the U.S. Treasury to impose sanctions on it for allegedly creating a hub for trade payments and helping Russia to evade restrictions.The United States on Wednesday imposed hundreds of sanctions targeting Russia, seeking to increase pressure on Moscow to halt its military action in Ukraine in the Biden administration’s final days, including on firms such as Keremet in Kyrgyzstan and others in China it accused of helping Moscow evade sanctions."The bank will apply to OFAC (U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control) to appeal," Keremet Bank said in a statement. "Keremet Bank continues to operate in normal mode, fulfilling its obligations to clients and partners with an unwavering commitment to the principles of transparency, reliability and responsibility."The U.S. Treasury accused Keremet Bank, a mid-sized Kyrgyzstan-based financial institution, of coordinating with Russian officials and sanctioned Russian defence sector lender Promsvyazbank."In 2024, the Kyrgyzstani Ministry of Finance sold a controlling stake in Keremet Bank to a firm strongly linked to a Russian oligarch with ties to the Russian government," the U.S. Treasury said. "The purchase of Keremet Bank was intended to create a sanctions evasion hub for Russia to pay for imports and receive payment for exports."Kyrgyzstan’s central bank said it was working to minimise the negative impact of sanctions on the country’s banking system. Uzbekistan unveils plan to upgrade Middle Corridor trade (EurasiaNet)
EurasiaNet [1/15/2025 4:14 PM, Staff, 56.5K, Neutral]
The Uzbek government is authorizing measures to diversify trade routes that bypass Russia.
A decree issued by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sketches a five-year improvement plan to facilitate commerce via the Middle Corridor, an emerging network connecting China to Europe via the Caspian Sea corridor. The areas covered by the decree include expanding trade routes, reducing transportation costs and achieving greater efficiency in freight transport logistics. The underlying premise of the decree is that Uzbekistan must reduce its dependency on Russia as a gateway to trade with the West.
Another aim of the decree is to improve infrastructure and procedures for tractor-trailer-borne goods, including an expanded network of truck stops and more efficient systems to reduce transit times at border crossings, including those at Davut-ota, Gisht Kuprik and Navoi. Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov told news outlet O’zbekiston 24 that the plan additionally calls for improvements in connections to Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, with the aim of boosting trade with Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
The measures outlined in the decree are designed to synchronize Westward-oriented trade corridors with the newly launched Kyrgyz-Uzbek-China railway. Officials from the three countries held a ground-breaking ceremony in late December, but construction work isn’t expected to commence in earnest until the summer of 2025. Indo-Pacific
In South Asia, Power Shifts Usher in Diplomatic Surprises (Foreign Policy)
Foreign Policy [1/15/2025 6:32 PM, Michael Kugelman, 1436K, Negative]
The highlights this week: Major shifts in Afghanistan and Bangladesh lead to unexpected diplomatic developments for India and Pakistan, India’s army chief announces that it won’t reduce troops on its disputed border with China this winter, and Pakistani officials hold a third round of talks with the country’s opposition amid tensions.
South Asia’s Bilateral Surprises
In 2021, South Asia saw the end of one of its longest-running conflicts: the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. Last year, the 15-year rule of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—one of the region’s longest-serving leaders—came to a close.
These shifts have ushered in two surprising diplomatic developments: deepening engagement between India and the Taliban and a slowly growing Bangladesh-Pakistan relationship.
Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, Indian officials have held meetings with the group’s leaders. India partially reopened its embassy in Kabul in 2022, indicating its willingness to engage with the regime. And last week, one of India’s top diplomats, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Doha, Qatar, to discuss security and economic issues.
This high-level engagement is remarkable because the Taliban relied heavily on wartime support from India’s rival Pakistan. Taliban forces attacked Indian targets during the conflict, including a bombing outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2009. The Taliban have also harbored links to the Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which New Delhi blamed for an attack on the Indian consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, in 2014.
The end of the war lessened Pakistani leverage over the Taliban. In the years since, the group has refused to curb anti-Pakistan militants in Afghanistan, provoking tensions with Islamabad. This has given India more space to engage and pursue its own core interests in Afghanistan: ensuring that Afghan soil isn’t used to threaten India and working to strengthen trade and connectivity links to Iran and Central Asia.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York last September and called for strengthening ties. In November, a Pakistani cargo ship docked in a Bangladeshi port for the first time since the latter’s independence. And on Saturday, Dhaka announced a loosening of rules for Pakistani visa applicants.
These are dramatic developments in a relationship that has long struggled, mainly because of the legacy of Bangladesh’s independence war in 1971. The Pakistani military perpetrated acts of brutality—described by many experts as genocide—in a bid to suppress independence fighters.
Hasina was especially resistant to improving relations during her time as prime minister. Her political party (at the time led by her father) had spearheaded Bangladesh’s independence fight; a bitter political rival, the Jamaat-e-Islami party, collaborated with Pakistan during the 1971 war. Hasina’s resignation under pressure last August left a vacuum filled by several actors, including Yunus, who are more inclined to explore partnership with Pakistan.
Though the once-strong ties between Pakistan and the Taliban and between India and Bangladesh are casualties of these new dynamics, these damaged relationships haven’t changed as much as one might think. The shifts are jolting, but the main takeaway isn’t terribly new: The realignment reflects the latest chapter in the India-Pakistan rivalry.
The two countries have long competed for influence in Afghanistan, where India now seems to have the upper hand. And Pakistan’s burgeoning relations with Bangladesh mean that Islamabad gains a friend in a part of the region where it has none aside from Sri Lanka.
Closer engagement with Bangladesh also gives Pakistan influence in a country that borders volatile and sensitive northeast India. New Delhi hasn’t forgotten the massive arms shipment that was destined for rebels within its borders before it was intercepted in Bangladesh in 2004; it saw pro-Pakistan Bangladeshi officials and Pakistan intelligence as responsible.
Ultimately, the India-Pakistan rivalry still casts a long shadow over South Asia, which has already seen it play out in painful ways—from armed conflict in the past to paralysis within regional organizations that prevents collaborations on shared challenges such as climate change. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
What We’re Following
India won’t reduce troops on Chinese border. On Monday, India’s army chief, Upendra Dwivedi, made some telling comments about the status of India-China relations. Though Dwivedi said that tensions have eased since a deadly clash at the border of Ladakh and Tibet in 2020, he indicated that India will not reduce the number of troops on their disputed border when winter weather conditions become especially inhospitable, as is customary.
Dwivedi’s comments reveal that tensions linger nearly five years after the clash in Ladakh, the deadliest border crisis since India and China went to war in 1962. Even after a deal concluded last October to resume border patrols and restore the positions of some troops to pre-crisis locations, mistrust still prevails along the 2,100-mile frontier.
The decision is also a reminder that the October deal shouldn’t be seen as a precursor to a broader détente between India and China, especially since the relationship is still shaped by entrenched disagreements on a range of issues and intensifying strategic competition.
Pakistani opposition talks continue. On Thursday, Pakistani officials will hold a third round of talks with the country’s beleaguered political opposition. The first two rounds came in late December and early January.
The talks are an encouraging development after several years of deep tensions between the government and opposition, fueled in part by large-scale crackdowns on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in prison since August 2023 on charges that his supporters describe as politically motivated.
That the third round of talks is happening at all is significant, given the limited progress of the first two. PTI has called for a judicial inquiry into two incidents: violent political protests in May 2023 that targeted military facilities, which the government says that PTI was behind; and a crackdown against PTI protesters in Islamabad in November 2024, which PTI claims caused mass casualties.
PTI has also unsuccessfully demanded more access to Khan to discuss the ongoing talks. Time may be running out: PTI negotiators have threatened to end talks if the government doesn’t launch the inquiries by Jan. 31.
Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake in China. On Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in Beijing for a four-day state visit. His agenda includes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials on a range of issues, including Sri Lanka’s debt and Chinese infrastructure projects.
This marks Dissayanake’s second foreign visit since taking office last year; his first was to India in December. The Sri Lankan president’s travel reflects how he, much like other new leaders in the region, is looking to better balance ties with New Delhi and Beijing.
India will closely watch one aspect of the trip: The meetings are expected to address the issue of Chinese research vessels in Sri Lanka, which India alleges engage in spycraft. Dissanayake’s predecessor banned the docking of such craft in Sri Lanka for one year, and the moratorium ended earlier this month. Dissanayake hasn’t indicated that he will extend it, but he has said that Sri Lankan soil won’t be used to threaten India.
Under the Radar
Afghanistan International, a London-based news outlet, recently reported that Jeff Rigsby, an American living in Afghanistan, was found dead in his home in Kabul in November. Rigsby was one of a few U.S. citizens known to be based in Afghanistan.
Rigsby, who frequently posted well-informed threads about Afghanistan on his X account, had spent time in the country during the U.S.-led war before returning to live there in 2022, after the Taliban takeover. Other Americans known to be in Afghanistan are there under different conditions: At least three are held captive by the Taliban.
The Biden administration prioritized making efforts to try to secure their freedom—a focus that will likely be maintained by the Trump administration.
Rigsby’s cause of death is unclear. There is speculation that he was killed—by the Taliban or possibly by others motivated by discomfort with investigative work he did on lead poisoning. Others believe that he died of natural causes. There are also many questions about Rigsby himself, including what his profession was and why he decided to settle in Afghanistan.
Rigsby’s friends, however, say that he enjoyed being in Afghanistan and that he died in a place that he loved.
Regional Voices
In the Daily Star, assistant editor Badiuzzaman Bay highlights recent cases of Indian border guards killing Bangladesh civilians. "India has too many unresolved issues with Bangladesh … to let these manageable crises fester unnecessarily," he writes. "But if it continues its uncooperative stance, Bangladesh should consider taking the issue to the international court.".
In the Print, journalist Karanjeet Kaur laments the recent trend of senior Indian business leaders calling on Indian workers to put in more hours with no offer of overtime pay. "India’s most respected business leaders and start-up founders have made a habit of displaying just how deeply disconnected they are from the realities of working people’s lives," she writes.
In the Express Tribune, scholar Muhammad Ahsan Khan argues that Pakistan should address its agricultural challenges by resorting to vertical farming, which involves growing crops in stacked layers under controlled conditions. "Its ability to grow more crops using fewer resources in urban environments offers hope for a more resilient and sustainable food system in Pakistan," he writes. Twitter
Afghanistan
Malala Yousafzai@Malala
[1/15/2025 10:08 AM, 1.9M followers, 192 retweets, 643 likes]
At @MWLOrg_en #GirlsEducationMatters conference, I called out the Taliban’s gender apartheid in Afghanistan and delivered the message that we can be champions of our faith by being champions for girls & their right to learn. My gratitude to @MhmdAlissa for inviting me to speak. Pakistan
Shehbaz Sharif@CMShehbaz
[1/16/2025 1:38 AM, 6.7M followers, 165 retweets, 439 likes]
The people of Pakistan join me in welcoming the announcement of the long awaited ceasefire in Palestine. Appreciate the tireless efforts of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA, Egypt & other international partners who worked diligently to broker this vital agreement. It is imperative that provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance is immediately restored to Gaza and other war-torn areas.
We hope this ceasefire agreement will be honored in letter & spirit. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and pays homage to the sacrifices of tens of thousands of innocent people who lost their lives as victims of Israeli atrocities over the past several decades. Pakistan reaffirms its call for a two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, i.e. the creation of an independent state of Palestine with pre-1967 boundaries and Al Quds as its capital.
Government of Pakistan@GovtofPakistan
[1/15/2025 12:23 AM, 3.1M followers, 6 retweets, 21 likes]
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Electric Vehicles as a solution for air pollution and climate change. The Prime Minister chaired a meeting to discuss the promotion of Electric Vehicle Policy, appreciated the Power Minister and his team for working out a convincing proposal aimed at facilitating the EV manufacturers in rolling out subsidized charge-based automobiles in the country.
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI
[1/15/2025 8:10 AM, 21M followers, 9.4K retweets, 14K likes]
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Conversation with his Legal Team and Representatives of Media at Adiala Jail - January 14, 2025
"On January 13, 2024, Justice Qazi Faez Isa deprived Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of its electoral symbol with the intention of effectively dissolving it. But it is he who is now buried in history. Meanwhile, PTI and Imran Khan still stand tall with their ideology. Undoubtedly, lies and dishonesty have a short lifespan, while truth is eternal.
In the Al-Qadir Trust case, the judge is openly resorting to deception. The trial of the Al-Qadir case always starts between 11:30 and 12:00. Even yesterday, the hearing was scheduled for 11:00 AM, but before my lawyers could arrive, I was informed at around 9:00 AM that the judge had already arrived. My movement is restricted to the jail, and it was my legal right to appear in court accompanied by my lawyers, who were given an 11:00 AM time slot by the court. Judges Abul Hasnat and Muhammad Bashir delivered judgments in my absence in the past. Similarly, a decision in this case could have been announced, but postponing the decision under the pretext of my absence is absurd and derides the judicial system.
The Al-Qadir Trust case began when Hassan Nawaz Sharif sold a property worth Rs.9 billion for Rs.18 billion to the Malik Riaz family, prompting the National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate this suspicious transaction. The NCA questioned why the property was sold at double the price. Nawaz Sharif should first answer how his son received an additional Rs.9 billion from Malik Riaz.
As for my cabinet’s role in this matter, the amount was directly transferred to Pakistan through the Malik Riaz family by the NCA. Our duty was only to uphold the confidentiality agreement, and we approved it for Pakistan’s benefit, as such a large sum had never before arrived in Pakistan all at once.
The Al-Qadir Trust has no connection with this money, as it was established a year before this amount was received. Its sole purpose is to provide an education to students from remote areas, combining the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with modern education.
Neither I nor Bushra Bibi have gained benefit of a single Rupee from the Al-Qadir Trust. It is a charitable organization modeled after Shaukat Khanum and Namal (University). It will neither benefit me, nor harm me even if it is shut down; the funds will go back to its donors.
I want to make it clear that no matter what tactics are used, I will not make any deal. I am not Nawaz Sharif, who seeks to get his billions in corruption forgiven. I have lived in and will die in Pakistan, and I will always stand for my nation.
Political prisoners in Pakistan are being treated inhumanely. Our workers in military custody have been subjected to severe mental and physical torture. I, too, have been subjected to extremely poor treatment. Several workers, including Sami Wazir, have faced brutal torture. We demand that human rights organizations take action against these violations of law and human rights in Pakistan. We have filed petitions with the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court, and Islamabad High Court, but have not been granted a hearing.
We have no option but to raise our voices on international forums. I will write a letter to global human rights organizations to ensure that these innocent citizens are heard. I also urge overseas Pakistanis to raise their voices in this regard. In the process of crushing PTI, the entire system has been violated.
The country’s economy is at its worst. Foreign investment is at a historic low. The SIFC and Uraan programs have failed miserably. Unemployment is rising due to stagnant growth rates. Brilliant minds and investments are rapidly leaving the country because no one trusts the country’s stability anymore. Pakistani companies are moving their businesses to Dubai. No economic stability can ever be achieved in a country where rule of law does not exist. 1/2
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI
[1/15/2025 8:10 AM, 21M followers, 2.1K retweets, 3.2K likes]
Pakistan is buried under an economic crisis, there is no solution to this problem except for a government that enjoys public confidence." 2/2
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[1/16/2025 2:09 AM, 75.3K followers, 3 likes]
Pakistan will be represented by its Ambassador at the oath-taking of the US President, says @ForeignOfficePk spox @shafqatAmbPak in his weekly briefing. India
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/16/2025 12:00 AM, 104.7M followers, 5.7K retweets, 36K likes]
Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/15/2025 11:58 PM, 104.7M followers, 1.4K retweets, 6.8K likes]
Today, we mark #9YearsOfStartupIndia, a landmark initiative that has redefined innovation, entrepreneurship and growth. This is a programme very close to my heart, as it has emerged as a powerful way of furthering youth empowerment. Over the past nine years, this transformative program has empowered countless youngsters, turning their innovative ideas into successful StartUps.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/15/2025 11:58 PM, 104.7M followers, 109 retweets, 193 likes]
From tech-driven solutions to rural innovations, healthcare advancements to biotech breakthroughs, Fintech to EdTech, clean energy to sustainable technology, Indian startups are solving global challenges while at the same time creating employment opportunities and boosting our quest towards self-reliance. #9YearsOfStartupIndia
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/15/2025 11:58 PM, 104.7M followers, 110 retweets, 191 likes]
Startup India has propelled India to become among the largest and most vibrant StartUp ecosystems. This was when people doubted India’s ability to thrive in this system just a decade ago! #9YearsOfStartupIndia
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/15/2025 11:58 PM, 104.7M followers, 251 retweets, 603 likes]
As far as the Government is concerned, we have left no stone unturned to encourage a culture of StartUps. Our policies have focused on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ greater access to resources and, most importantly, supporting them at every juncture. We are actively promoting innovation and incubation centres so that our youngsters become risk-takers. I have personally been regularly interacting with upcoming StartUps. #9YearsOfStartupIndia
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/15/2025 11:58 PM, 104.7M followers, 248 retweets, 591 likes]
This success of StartUp India reflects that today’s India is dynamic, confident and future-ready. As we mark this journey, we reaffirm our commitment to continue fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that uplifts every dream and contributes to Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I compliment every youngster in the StartUp world and urge more youngsters to pursue this. It’s my assurance you won’t be disappointed! #9YearsOfStartupIndia
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[1/15/2025 6:03 AM, 104.7M followers, 3.1K retweets, 14K likes]
Speaking at the inauguration of Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple in Navi Mumbai. https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1ypJdpkraErJW Rajnath Singh@rajnathsingh
[1/15/2025 12:02 PM, 24.4M followers, 133 retweets, 728 likes]
Attended the 77th Army Day celebrations at Pune today. The Govt is transforming the Armed Forces into a modern warfare machine in view of dynamic geopolitical world order.
In near future conflicts and wars will become more violent & unpredictable. The emergence of non-state actors in many countries and their resorting to terrorism is also a matter of concern.
Due to the rapid technological advancements, future wars will witness a change to a great extent. Cyber and space domains are rapidly emerging as new war zones. Along with this, a war of narrative as well as perception is also being fought all over the world. The military must focus on holistic capacity building and reforms. Our focus is on equipping soldiers with latest weapons & platforms and modernisation through self-reliance.
India cannot depend on other countries for its security; Aatmanirbharta must to achieve strategic autonomy. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2093181
Rajnath Singh@rajnathsingh
[1/15/2025 11:52 AM, 24.4M followers, 212 retweets, 1.4K likes]
It was a memorable day in the history of Indian Navy today when PM Shri @narendramodi dedicated to the nation three frontline naval combatants - INS Surat, INS Nilgiri & INS Vaghsheer - at a ceremony in Mumbai. Inspired by PM’s vision for self-reliance the MoD is surging ahead by implementing the his mantra of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence. The presence of a strong Indian Navy in IOR becomes our biggest priority. The commissioning of three modern platforms today is an important milestone towards achieving our goal. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2093018 Rahul Gandhi@RahulGandhi
[1/16/2025 2:57 AM, 27.5M followers, 1.1K retweets, 4.2K likes]
Congratulations to the brilliant scientists of ISRO for the historic success of SpaDeX, making India the fourth nation to master space docking technology. This milestone marks a significant leap in India’s capabilities, paving the way for greater space programs and missions. Your dedication and innovation continue to inspire the world and make every Indian proud.Dipanjan R Chaudhury@DipanjanET
[1/15/2025 12:47 AM, 5.8K followers, 2 retweets, 7 likes]
Russia pushes to add India as Quad plus member on Afghanistan amid India’s outreach to Taliban and within days to FS meeting with Acting FM. New Delhi has been part of Moscow format of talks on Afghanistan — My report @ETPolitics https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/russia-wants-india-included-in-grouping-on-afghanistan/articleshow/117274890.cms NSB
Dipanjan R Chaudhury@DipanjanET
[1/15/2025 11:04 PM, 5.8K followers, 6 retweets, 10 likes]
Second in command of Bangladesh Army leads a delegation to Pakistan to meet Army Chief in what is an unprecedented devp of last few decades. Pak readies to train Bangla Army & both discusses “regional security matters” sending a message to India — My report @ETPolitics
Anura Kumara Dissanayake@anuradisanayake
[1/16/2025 1:54 AM, 144.4K followers, 29 retweets, 93 likes]
During my state visit to China, we secured one of our largest foreign direct investments—a $3.7B agreement with @SinopecNews to build an advanced oil refinery in Hambantota. This will boost exports, create jobs, and fuel economic growth.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake@anuradisanayake
[1/16/2025 1:42 AM, 144.4K followers, 12 retweets, 57 likes]
Today (16), I invited Chinese investors to explore opportunities in Sri Lanka at the Investment Forum, highlighting our stable governance and transparent economy. Speaking at the "Investment Forum," I had meaningful discussions with leaders from prominent Chinese corporations.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake@anuradisanayake
[1/15/2025 9:48 AM, 144.4K followers, 137 retweets, 829 likes]
Honored to be warmly welcomed by President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. Together, we’re paving the way for a new era of Sri Lanka-China cooperation. Proud to sign key MoUs to strengthen economic, social, and industrial ties. Central Asia
MFA Kazakhstan@MFA_KZ
[1/15/2025 11:13 AM, 60.5K followers, 5 retweets, 20 likes]
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Received U.S. Ambassador https://gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/917809?lang=kk
Emomali Rahmon@EmomaliRahmonTJ
[1/16/2025 12:41 AM, 3.3K followers, 2 retweets, 6 likes]
On January 16, a grand welcoming ceremony for the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran @drPezeshkian, was held at the Palace of the Nation. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, warmly welcomed the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. #Iran
Emomali Rahmon@EmomaliRahmonTJ
[1/15/2025 9:10 PM, 3.3K followers, 2 retweets, 7 likes]
On January 15, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran @drPezeshkian, arrived on a state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan. As a sign of high respect, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, warmly and sincerely welcomed the distinguished guest. #Iran
Javlon Vakhabov@JavlonVakhabov
[1/15/2025 11:47 PM, 6.2K followers, 4 likes]
Antony Blinken Reflects on Tashkent Visit U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) highlighted his visit to Tashkent, describing it as a meaningful experience. During his visit, he expressed admiration for the historic Khast-Imam Square, a significant cultural and religious landmark. Blinken was accompanied by Gulchekhra Rakhimova, a former Fulbright Teaching Assistant (@FulbrightPrgrm), who provided insights into the site’s rich history and heritage.Javlon Vakhabov@JavlonVakhabov
[1/15/2025 3:34 AM, 6.2K followers]
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to make a working visit to Tajikistan today.Pezeshkian is expected to meet with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon (@EmomaliRahmonTJ) and other senior officials in Dushanbe, continuing the dialogue initiated at the 79th UN General Assembly in September 2024. Source: https://eng.khovar.tj/2025/01/president-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-masoud-pezeshkian-to-pay-state-visit-to-tajikistan/
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[1/15/2025 7:02 PM, 24K followers, 1 retweet]
Caspian Policy Center’s Efgan Nifti describes Central Asia and the Caucasus as interconnected regions and urges the incoming Trump administration to adopt a comprehensive policy toward them. @caspiancenter @enifti
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[1/15/2025 6:59 PM, 24K followers, 2 retweets, 2 likes]
Eric Rudenshiold @caspiancenter is urging the incoming Trump administration to adopt "an effective policy" that benefits the US, Central Asia, and the Caucasus by "promoting a stable, prosperous, and free Trans-Caspian region." @eRudenshiold @enifti
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[1/15/2025 11:01 AM, 24K followers, 7 retweets, 8 likes]
Today in Washington: Central Asia and Caucasus are interconnected, so U.S. needs a comprehensive regional approach, says @enifti @caspiancenter{End of Report} To subscribe to the SCA Morning Press Clips, please email SCA-PressOfficers@state.gov. Please do not reply directly to this email.