Ex-prisoners Freed as Allegations of Injustice Under Hasina Resurface The interim government of Bangladesh released 178 former paramilitary personnel on Thursday after they had spent 16 years in prison on allegations of involvement in the 2009 mutiny. According to DW, “These personnel were imprisoned for their alleged roles in the violent two-day mutiny of 2009, which led to the arrests of thousands.” The mutiny, which targeted senior officers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), resulted in widespread arrests and over 150 death sentences in initial trials. Human rights organizations criticized the judicial process under the government of former prime minister Sheikh…
Author: Web Desk
Draft Law to Enforce Penalties on Denial of Atrocities The government of Cambodia has approved a new law that imposes penalties on individuals who deny the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge era, marking a step towards justice for the regime’s victims. Under the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, nearly two million people were killed between 1975 and 1979 through starvation, torture, forced labor, and mass executions. The draft law, which penalizes those who deny these crimes, was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Manet, confirmed government spokesman Pen Bona. Pen Bona stated, “The…
Southern California Has Gone Without Significant Rain for Nine Months A new wildfire that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday rapidly spread to over 9,400 acres (38 square kilometers), driven by strong winds and dry brush, forcing mandatory evacuation orders for over 31,000 people. The Hughes fire, located about 80 kilometers north of Los Angeles, further stressed the region’s firefighters, who had largely brought two major fires in the metropolitan area under control. In just a few hours on Wednesday, the new fire grew to two-thirds the size of the Eaton Fire, one of the two massive wildfires…
Trump Signed an Executive Order Delaying TikTok Ban by 75 Days U.S. President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders and took other actions since his inauguration on Monday, addressing a range of issues that could impact millions of Americans and non-citizens. These actions aimed to fulfill campaign promises on illegal immigration, federal workforce size, energy and the environment, gender and diversity policies, and pardons for supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Here are some of the key actions Trump has taken so far: Immigration Trump declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and issued…
Safe-Haven Demand Drives Gold to $2,770, Market Volatility Fueled by U.S. Trade Policy and Global Central Bank Meetings Gold soared to near three-month highs on Friday and was on track for a fourth straight weekly gain as uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies weakened the dollar, boosting demand for safe-haven bullion. Spot gold jumped 0.8% to $2,774.49 per ounce as of 0255 GMT, gaining more than 2% so far this week. Earlier in the day, prices reached $2,777.10, the highest since October 31, when gold hit a record $2,790.15. U.S. gold futures climbed 0.6% to $2,781.80. The dollar…
Judge Issues a Temporary Restraining Order Against President Trump’s Controversial Immigration Policy A U.S. federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from implementing the Republican president’s executive order restricting the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.” Seattle-based U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order at the urging of four Democratic-led states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon—preventing the administration from enforcing the order. Trump had signed the order on January 22, his first day back in office. The judge, appointed by former Republican President Ronald Reagan, dealt the first legal setback…
President Donald Trump Kicks Off His Second Term with a Crackdown on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Employees President Donald Trump has started his second term with another firm decision: a crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) workers. The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to dismiss federal employees in DEI roles, forcing major corporations and federal agencies to alter their policies. In a memo shared on Friday, the acting head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management informed government agencies that they “shall take action to terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental…
Human Rights Commission Says Digital Freedoms Are Already Over-Regulated; Terms Three-Year Jail Term Excessive The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged the government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to ensure an open debate in the Senate on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, after it was pushed through the National Assembly by the ruling coalition. The HRCP warned that if the bill becomes law, it might be used to target political workers, human rights defenders, and journalists who criticize state institutions. The commission raised concerns about the emphasis on “fake or false news” in Section…
PTI Founder Directs Raja to Start Consultations for Party Reorganization in Punjab Rawalpindi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has appointed Junaid Akbar as the party president for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The decision follows Akbar’s election as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which he secured with support from both the opposition and the government. PAC is regarded as one of the most powerful parliamentary bodies, with the authority to summon individuals or records from government departments in financial matters. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja issued Akbar’s appointment notification, replacing Ali Amin Gandapur, who also serves as the province’s…
Imran Khan’s Party Labels Recent Constitutional Tweaks as Unconstitutional Islamabad: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment, calling it ultra vires to the Constitution. This marks the 16th petition filed against the controversial amendment. In October last year, Parliament passed constitutional changes, including granting the legislature the power to appoint the Chief Justice, setting the tenure for the position, and forming constitutional benches. PTI contends that the amendment violates the Constitution’s core features, such as judicial independence, rule of law, federalism, separation of powers, parliamentary democracy, and fundamental rights. The…
