THE continuous attacks on Hindus and other minorities like Buddhists in Bangladesh are causing widespread concern. Consequent to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in the first week of August after a mass movement, it was expected that the end of her authoritarian rule would usher in a more democratic system in Bangladesh. However, in the chaos of the first few days, reports of attacks on some Hindu temples and houses of the minority community emerged across the country.

THE National People’s Power (NPP) has won a historic victory in the Sri Lankan Parliament elections. For the first time, a political party has won a two-thirds majority through the  proportional representation system.  The NPP has won 159 of the 225 seats polling a record high of 61.6 per cent of the vote.

BELYING predictions of pollsters that the US Presidential race is ending in a dead heat, Donald Trump has won a decisive victory, getting 312 of the 538 Electoral College votes and outstripping Kamala Harris in the popular vote by polling 51 per cent.  Despite the liberal media’s favourable projection of the Kamala Harris campaign, it was clear to independent observers that Trump was gaining ground, particularly in the last one month, and his inflammatory rhetoric on immigration and rising crime and populist rants against the “elites” were evoking a g

THE Indian government announced on October 21 that an agreement was reached between India and China on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is a welcome development that hopefully would lead to the normalisation of relations between the two neighbouring countries.The bilateral relations between India and China had deteriorated after the border clashes in Galwan valley in 2020. Both countries acted to ensure that these clashes do not lead to a full blown war. Since 2020, 31 rounds of talks were held at the military and diplomatic levels.

THE results of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections are of great significance.  The victory of the National Conference-led alliance, winning 49 of the 90 seats, is a strong verdict against the Modi government and the BJP’s authoritarian steps to dismantle the state of J&K and deprive it of its special status.  The people of the Valley have also foiled the BJP’s campaign to field proxies and  encourage separatist elements to contest to divide the vote.  The fact that the BJP could poll only 2.2 per cent of the votes cast in the Valley shows the total rejection of the Hindutva forces’