Name: Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 128
Uploaded: 2023-11-04T08:01:50.000+05:30
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Description: Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 128

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticises the India–New Zealand FTA, calling it unfair, while governments defend trade growth and investment benefits.

New Zealand Foreign Minister criticizes India–New Zealand FTA as an unfair deal

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticises the India&ndash;New Zealand FTA, calling it unfair, while governments defend trade growth and investment benefits.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has openly criticised the India&ndash;New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as &ldquo;neither free nor fair&rdquo; and warning that it represents a &ldquo;bad deal for New Zealand&rdquo; that sacrifices too much for limited gains.
In a post on X, Peters said his party, New Zealand First, was &ldquo;regrettably opposed&rdquo; to the pact, arguing that it makes &ldquo;serious concessions&rdquo; in areas such as immigration and investment while failing to deliver meaningful benefits for New Zealand&rsquo;s exporters. Dairy farmers, he said, stand to gain little from the agreement. &ldquo;This is not a good deal for New Zealand farmers and is impossible to defend to our rural communities,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We consider the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement to be neither free nor fair. Regrettably, this is a bad deal for New Zealand. It gives too much away, especially on immigration, and does not get enough in return for New Zealanders, including on dairy,&rdquo; Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, a nationalist political party and a key partner in the country&rsquo;s ruling coalition, said on X.
The remarks contrast sharply with the tone adopted by the governments of both countries, which recently announced the conclusion of negotiations on the FTA. Officials say the agreement could help double bilateral trade over the next five years. According to New Zealand government estimates, tariffs would be eliminated or reduced on 95% of New Zealand&rsquo;s exports to India, with more than half becoming duty-free from the first day. Indian goods, in turn, would receive duty-free access to the New Zealand market.
Alongside the trade pact, New Zealand has committed to invest around $20 billion in India over a 15-year period.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has defended the agreement, saying it delivers broad-based economic benefits. &ldquo;The gains are wide-ranging and significant,&rdquo; Luxon said in a statement, citing opportunities for &ldquo;jobs for Kiwis, exports and growth&rdquo; driven by India&rsquo;s scale and fast-growing economy. He also noted that the deal fulfils a 2022 election pledge by his National Party to conclude an FTA with India in its first term.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed that optimism, calling the agreement a &ldquo;historic milestone&rdquo; achieved in just nine months. In a social media post, PM Modi said the FTA &ldquo;sets the stage for doubling bilateral trade in the coming five years&rdquo; and said India welcomes over $20 billion in investment from New Zealand across multiple sectors. He also highlighted potential benefits for innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, MSMEs, students and youth, while pointing to growing cooperation in sports, education and culture.
Peters, however, has questioned both how quickly the deal was finalised and what it ultimately delivers.
He said New Zealand First had urged its coalition partner to avoid &ldquo;rushing into concluding a low-quality deal with India&rdquo; and instead use the full parliamentary term to negotiate stronger outcomes. &ldquo;Unfortunately, these pleas went unheeded,&rdquo; Peters said, accusing National of favouring &ldquo;doing a quick, low-quality deal over doing the hard work necessary to get a fair deal that delivers for both New Zealanders and Indians.&rdquo;
Dairy has emerged as one of the most contentious issues. Peters pointed out that New Zealand would be &ldquo;completely opening its market to Indian products under this deal,&rdquo; while India would retain &ldquo;significant tariff barriers&rdquo; on New Zealand&rsquo;s major dairy exports. He noted that this would be New Zealand&rsquo;s first trade agreement to exclude core dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter. In the year to November 2025, exports of these items were worth about $24 billion, accounting for roughly 30% of the country&rsquo;s total goods exports.
India has said the FTA excludes market access for dairy and several other sensitive products &mdash; including coffee, milk, cream, cheese, yoghurt, whey, sugar, spices, edible oils and rubber &mdash; in order to protect its farmers and domestic industry. Two-way trade between India and New Zealand stood at around $1.81 billion in 2024, dominated by Indian pharmaceutical exports and New Zealand forestry and agricultural products. This remains small compared with India&rsquo;s total goods trade of more than $1 trillion in the 2024&ndash;25 financial year.
Immigration-related provisions have also drawn strong objections from Peters. He said National had made &ldquo;serious concessions&rdquo; that &ldquo;have nothing to do with two-way trade&rdquo; but instead encourage increased movement of people from India to New Zealand. On a per capita basis, he argued, New Zealand has offered far greater labour market access than Australia or the United Kingdom did in their FTAs with India.
&ldquo;This is deeply unwise given New Zealand&rsquo;s current labour market conditions, with too many New Zealanders in unemployment or doing it tough economically,&rdquo; he said.
New Zealand First has also raised concerns about a proposed new employment visa specifically for Indian citizens, warning it could attract significantly higher levels of migration &ldquo;at a time when we have a very tight labour market.&rdquo; Peters added that provisions allowing Indian students to work during and after their studies could &ldquo;tie the hands of future New Zealand Governments&rdquo; and limit flexibility in responding to changing labour market conditions.
Despite his criticism, Peters stressed that his party&rsquo;s opposition is not directed at India or its leadership. He said New Zealand First remains &ldquo;deeply committed to the advancement of the India&ndash;New Zealand relationship,&rdquo; which he described as strategically important for New Zealand. Peters noted that his first overseas visit as foreign minister outside Australia and the Pacific was to India, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has since increased resources aimed at strengthening ties with New Delhi.
He also said he has &ldquo;the utmost respect&rdquo; for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and that New Zealand First has communicated its position clearly. &ldquo;We have made clear to him that our opposition to the deal is not a critique of the Government of India or its negotiators &ndash; but rather the reflection of a difference of opinion between the parties that comprise New Zealand&rsquo;s Coalition Government,&rdquo; Peters said.

Md Motaleb Sikder, a senior NCP labour leader, was shot in Khulna following recent political unrest and the killing of student activist Sharif Osman Hadi.

Bangladesh student leader shot during protests over Hadi killing

Md Motaleb Sikder, a senior NCP labour leader, was shot in Khulna following recent political unrest and the killing of student activist Sharif Osman Hadi.

Unidentified gunmen on Monday shot in the head Motaleb Shikder, a second leader of Bangladesh&rsquo;s violent student-led 2004 uprising. The attack took place in southwestern Khulna city, days after the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
"The Khulna Division head of NCP (National Citizen Party) and central coordinator of the party&rsquo;s workers front, Motaleb Shikder, was shot a few minutes ago," NCP&rsquo;s joint principal coordinator Mahmuda Mitu said in a Facebook post. Mitu, a doctor, said Shikder was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.
The Kaler Kantha newspaper, quoting hospital sources, said Shikder was shot on the left side of his head, and he was bleeding profusely when he was brought to the facility, where the doctors started emergency treatment.
The attack came days after Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen at an election campaign in central Dhaka&rsquo;s Bijoynagar area.
The 32-year-old Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday. Hadi was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
The interim government of Muhammad Yunus staged a nationwide mourning for Hadi&rsquo;s death on Saturday and said no stone would be left unturned to track down his killers as violence erupted in Dhaka and other major cities afresh over the attack and subsequent death.
Faisal Karim Masud's parents, wife and a female friend of the prime suspect have been arrested by police, but said they were unsure about his current whereabouts.
After Monday&rsquo;s clandestine attack on Shikder in Khulna city&rsquo;s Majid Sarani area, police said they were yet at dark about the attack perpetrators or motive but launched an &ldquo;immediate manhunt&rdquo; for their arrest.
Local police station chief Animesh Mondal, however, informed reporters that Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) authorities now shifted Shikder to its City Imaging Centre to pinpoint the state of his injury.

Australian police allege Bondi Beach mass shooting suspects trained tactically before targeting a Hanukkah event, as PM Albanese vows tougher extremism and gun laws.

Sydney Beach Attack: Father-Son Duo Behind Mass Shooting

Australian police allege Bondi Beach mass shooting suspects trained tactically before targeting a Hanukkah event, as PM Albanese vows tougher extremism and gun laws.

The two suspects in a deadly mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach carried out "tactical" training in the countryside, police alleged Monday, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised to the country's Jewish community and vowed tougher laws against extremism.
Father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in almost three decades.
Police documents released Monday said the two had carried out "firearms training" in what was believed to be the New South Wales countryside prior to the shooting.
They said the suspects "meticulously planned" the attack for months, releasing pictures showing them firing shotguns and moving in what they described as a "tactical manner".
The pair also recorded a video in October railing against "Zionists" while sitting in front of a flag of the Islamic State jihadist group and detailing their motivations for the attack, police said.
And they made a nighttime reconnaissance trip to Bondi Beach just days before the killings, documents showed.
The suspects also threw explosives at onlookers during last Sunday's attack, which did not detonate, police said.
Australia observed a minute's silence at 6:47 pm (0747 GMT) on Sunday -- exactly a week since the first reports of gunfire.
On Bondi Beach on Monday, things were gradually returning to normal.
Visitors still spent time in quiet reflection at a memorial set up for the victims, a few placing flowers against walls and on the bridge.
Facing growing political pressure over the attack, Albanese said he would push for tough new laws creating "an aggravated offence for hate preaching".
"We're not going to let the ISIS-inspired terrorists win. We won't let them divide our society, and we'll get through this together," Albanese told reporters on Monday.
And he apologised to the Jewish community "and our nation as a whole" for what took place.
"The government will work every day to protect Jewish Australians, to protect the fundamental right as Australians that they have to be proud of who they are, to practice their faith, to educate their children and to engage in Australian society in the fullest way possible," he added.
 - Crackdown on guns, 'terrorist symbols' -
Australia's federal government has flagged a suite of reforms to gun ownership and hate speech laws, as well as a review of police and intelligence services.
Albanese also announced a sweeping buyback scheme to "get guns off our streets".
It is the largest gun buyback since 1996, when Australia cracked down on firearms in the wake of a mass shooting that killed 35 people at Port Arthur.
And the government of New South Wales -- where the shooting took place -- recalled its parliament for two days on Monday to introduce what it called the "toughest firearm reforms in the country".
"We can't pretend that the world is the same as it was before that terrorist incident on Sunday," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters.
"I'd give anything to go back a week, a month, two years, to ensure that didn't happen, but we need to make sure that we take steps so that it never happens again."
The new rules will cap the number of guns an individual can own to four, or 10 for exempted individuals like farmers.
There are more than 1.1 million firearms in the state, officials said.
The legislation would also ban the display of "terrorist symbols", including the flag of the Islamic State, which was found in a car linked to one of the alleged shooters.
Authorities will also be able to prohibit protests for up to three months following a terrorism incident.
One of the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack. An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998.
His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, was moved from hospital to jail on Monday, police said.
Minns said Monday he would also look into stricter hate speech legislation next year, including restrictions on the phrase "globalise the intifada".
The phrase is a common chant at pro-Palestinian rallies and refers to uprisings against Israeli forces in the occupied territories.

During his annual Moscow press conference, Vladimir Putin praised Russian troop progress in Ukraine, warned of further military action if diplomacy fails, and downplayed economic concerns under Western sanctions.

Putin hails Ukraine gains, threatens more, in annual press conference

During his annual Moscow press conference, Vladimir Putin praised Russian troop progress in Ukraine, warned of further military action if diplomacy fails, and downplayed economic concerns under Western sanctions.

Vladimir Putin on Friday hailed his troops' progress in Ukraine during an annual press conference in Moscow -- a staple of his 25-year rule -- with the Russian president emboldened by battlefield gains in Ukraine during a US diplomatic push to end the almost four-year war.
As Russia's offensive enters another winter, Putin has spent days telling Russians that Moscow will seize the rest of eastern Ukraine by force if diplomacy fails.
Lanched in February 2022, the Russian leader's assault on Ukraine has become Europe's worst conflict since World War II, killing thousands on both sides.
Russia has since then lived under massive Western sanctions, along with a domestic crackdown on dissent unseen since the Soviet era.
"Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact... the enemy is retreating in all directions," Putin said at the set-piece event, shown on big screens across Russian cities.
"I'm sure that before the end of this year we will still witness new successes," he added, reeling off a list of Ukrainian cities in the crosshairs of his army.
Reinforced security measures were in place around Moscow's Kremlin and Red Square with some areas closed for pedestrians. Dozens of police cars and special services could be seen in the streets, AFP reporters witnessed.
Putin was speaking as the EU scrambled to help Kyiv avoid a deal pushed by the United States, seen as imposing an effective capitulation on Ukraine, and as the Kremlin seeks to keep Europe out of the settlement talks.
Escalating rhetoric, Putin earlier this week called EU leaders "piglets" and vowed to seize the rest of Ukrainian land he has proclaimed as Russian "by military means" if talks fail.
In Friday's speech, he warned of "severe" consequences if EU powers followed through on proposals to use Russian assets frozen in Europe to fund Ukraine's defence.
In a tightly-controlled TV show, he takes questions from the press and call-ins from people around Russia's 12 time zones.
 - No 'surrender' -
The Kremlin said almost three million questions had been filed by citizens ahead of the event.
In the capital, locals voiced hope for an end to the dragging conflict -- but on Moscow's terms.
"I have loved ones fighting in (east Ukraine's) Donbas and I would not want us to surrender positions there," Lilya Reshetnyak, a 55-year-old accountant, told AFP.
"It's the only thing that worries me."
But she also wanted to ask the Russian leader about uncomfortable issues in occupied Ukraine, such as a water shortage.
Moscow has seized swathes of eastern Ukraine and is demanding that Kyiv surrender even more territory for fighting to end, which is unacceptable to Ukraine.
Russia has since summer advanced rapidly on the battlefield, especially in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Intense fighting has continued in Ukraine, even as the United States intensifies its separate talks with both sides -- with Moscow, whose troops have the upper hand, insisting it wants a deal before a ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump said recently that Russia has a more favourable negotiating position, hinting that Kyiv should give up land.
The Europeans are worried Trump will force a rushed deal that will cede too much to Moscow.
 - Economy, repression -
Putin also downplayed concerns over Russia's slowing economy, which has been on a war footing for almost four years and has prioritised defence over all other sectors.
He said the Russian economy was stable and compared it favourably to sluggish growth across Europe.
Russia has also been living under huge sanctions and persistent inflation. The economy is teetering on the edge of a recession, with growth hovering just above zero.
Criticism of the Ukraine offensive is banned in Russia, and Moscow has punished thousands of its citizens for speaking out against it -- either with fines or prison sentences.
All of Putin's political opponents are in exile, prison or dead.
Putin, a former KGB agent, became the president of Russia after Boris Yeltsin stepped down in December 1999.

Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar alleges India is violating the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming water flow manipulation threatens livelihoods and regional stability.

Pakistan accuses India of attempting to undermine Indus treaty

Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar alleges India is violating the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming water flow manipulation threatens livelihoods and regional stability.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday accused India of consistently attempting to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming the current material breaches strike at the heart of the pact.
Dar, who is also the Foreign Minister, was addressing the media a day after Pakistan sought clarification from India regarding variations in the flow of the Chenab river.
&ldquo;We witnessed in April this year India&rsquo;s unilateral abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty&hellip; But what we are witnessing now is material breaches by India that strike at the heart of the Indus Waters Treaty with escalating consequences both for regional stability and the sanctity of international law,&rdquo; he said.
A day after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India took a series of punitive measures against Pakistan that included putting the 1960 vintage Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in &ldquo;abeyance.&rdquo;
The IWT, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the distribution and use of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.
Dar also mentioned that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s manipulation of water&rdquo; has prompted Pakistan's Indus Commissioner to write a letter to his Indian counterpart seeking clarification on the matter.
He also alleged manipulation of Indus basin waters at a critical time of agricultural cycle directly threatens the life and livelihood in Pakistan.
The minister said India had halted sharing information, hydrological data, and joint oversight required by the treaty, which had exposed Pakistan to floods and droughts.
He warned that suspension of water will be considered as an act of war.

Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus condemns violence and attacks on journalists following Sharif Osman Hadi’s death, calling for restraint ahead of upcoming elections.

Bangladesh interim government condemns violence amid nationwide unrest

Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus condemns violence and attacks on journalists following Sharif Osman Hadi&rsquo;s death, calling for restraint ahead of upcoming elections.

The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, on Friday issued its first statement in response to the ongoing unrest across the country, urging citizens to resist acts of mob violence.
In a statement, the government said it &ldquo;strongly and unequivocally condemn[s] all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties.&rdquo; It warned that such actions, carried out by a few fringe elements, could derail the nation&rsquo;s democratic process.
&ldquo;This is a critical moment in our country's history. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace,&rdquo; the statement added, highlighting the significance of Bangladesh&rsquo;s ongoing democratic transition.
The interim government also emphasized the importance of upcoming elections and the national referendum, describing them as &ldquo;not merely political exercises, but a solemn national commitment.&rdquo; It further noted, &ldquo;This promise is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi gave his life. Honouring his sacrifice demands restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred.&rdquo;
Addressing recent attacks on journalists, the government expressed support for reporters from The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age. &ldquo;We stand with you. We are deeply sorry for the terror and violence you have endured. The nation has witnessed your courage and tolerance in the face of terror. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself. We promise you full justice,&rdquo; the statement said.
The statement also condemned the recent lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh: &ldquo;We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared.&rdquo;
The government concluded with an appeal to citizens: &ldquo;At this critical hour, we call upon every citizen to honour Shaheed Hadi by rejecting and resisting violence, incitement and hatred.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, protests following the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi have continued to escalate. Reports indicate that offices of media outlets, including Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were targeted during a night of violent unrest. Protestors also directed anger at the partially demolished home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In response, Inqilab Moncho urged the public to refrain from violence, vandalism, and arson. In a late-night Facebook post on Thursday, the organisation stated: &ldquo;Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand -- 32 and 36 are not the same.&rdquo;
The post continued: &ldquo;As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence.&rdquo;

Firefighters rescued staff from burning newsrooms in Dhaka after protests erupted over the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, raising concerns over press freedom and public safety.

Tension in Bangladesh After Key Figure's Death Sparks Protests

Firefighters rescued staff from burning newsrooms in Dhaka after protests erupted over the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, raising concerns over press freedom and public safety.

Firefighters pulled journalists from their burning newsroom on Friday after the building was set ablaze during violent demonstrations in Bangladesh's capital.
Thousands of protesters were brought to the streets by the assassination of a youth leader running for parliament in upcoming national elections.
A key figure in last year's uprising, Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was shot by masked gunmen while leaving a mosque in Dhaka last week.
After he died in hospital on Thursday, his supporters gathered in Dhaka demanding the killers be brought to justice.
Several buildings, including those housing leading newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, were set on fire and vandalised, according to authorities.
Staff trapped in the Daily Star newsroom described being unable to escape as the building filled with smoke.
"I can't breathe anymore. There's too much smoke. I am inside. You are killing me," reporter Zyma Islam wrote on her Facebook page.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control at 1:40 am (1940 GMT on Thursday), with 27 employees rescued from the smouldering building.
"For the first time in the newspaper's history, the publication had to be halted," consulting editor Kamal Ahmed told AFP.
At the Prothom Alo, executive editor Sajjad Sharif said he was "deeply saddened" that the newspaper could not be published due to vandalism and arson.
"This attack is not merely an attack on Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, it's an attack on freedom of the press, expression, dissent and diversity of opinion," he said.
Critics of the papers, the largest in the South Asian country, accuse them of favouring neighbouring India, where Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge since quitting in 2024.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was alarmed by the violence against the press.
"CPJ is monitoring the situation and urges Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety of news outlets and journalists, and to hold those responsible accountable," it said in a statement.
Hadi, a leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha, was also an outspoken critic of India.
After he was shot in Dhaka on December 12, he was airlifted to Singapore, where authorities later announced he had succumbed to his wounds.
Inqilab Mancha distanced itself from the violence that erupted at the Dhaka protests, blaming opportunists for trying to derail the demonstrations.
"They essentially want to turn Bangladesh into a dysfunctional state through vandalism and arson," the group said in a statement posted to social media.
"They want to endanger the independence and sovereignty of this country."
Bangladeshi police have launched a manhunt for Hadi's shooters, releasing photographs of two key suspects and offering a reward of five million taka (about $42,000) for information leading to their arrest.

US House Democrats released a fresh set of photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, intensifying pressure on the Trump administration to disclose federal files before the DOJ deadline.

US Democrats release Epstein photos showing Bill Gates, Noam Chomsky

US House Democrats released a fresh set of photos from Jeffrey Epstein&rsquo;s estate, intensifying pressure on the Trump administration to disclose federal files before the DOJ deadline.

US House Democrats on Thursday published a fresh batch of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, stepping up pressure on Donald Trump's administration on the eve of its deadline to release federal files on the late financier and convicted sex offender.
The 68 images -- shared without added context -- are part of a much larger cache that Congress obtained from Epstein's estate and has been drip-feeding to the public in recent days, stoking political drama in Washington.
Among the newly released photos are shots of passports and identity documents from multiple countries, most of the personal details redacted.
Several documents are marked "female," including passports from places such as Ukraine and Russia, and a number of faces in the images are obscured to protect identities.
Other photographs include two images showing public intellectual Noam Chomsky seated with Epstein on what appears to be an aircraft, and pictures of Bill Gates posing beside a woman whose face is blurred.
The cache also includes images of filmmaker Woody Allen and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon -- both of whom featured in an earlier photo release.
The latest batch of photographs do not appear to depict any unlawful conduct by any of the subjects.
But one screenshot shows a snippet of a text exchange in which an unknown sender appears to discuss recruiting young women.
"I have a friend scout she sent me some girls today. But she asks 1000$ per girl. I will send u girls now. Maybe someone will be good for J?" the post says.
The screenshot includes a partially redacted physical description and the line "18 y old," but provides no names or clear indication of who is speaking.
A separate image shows a woman's foot bearing a handwritten quote from Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita," a novel about a man's sexual obsession with a child -- another detail released without explanation.
Democrats say they are publishing material as it arrives while redacting identifying information for victims and anyone who could be a victim. Republicans, who control the Oversight Committee that is tasked with ensuring government transparency and accountability, have accused Democrats of "cherry-picking" to shape a narrative.
The Justice Department (DOJ) has remained silent on whether it will meet Friday's deadline, set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed last month with bipartisan support.
The law requires the DOJ to publish the most comprehensive set of Epstein-related materials yet, while safeguarding victims' identities.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender with ties to global elites, died in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death -- ruled a suicide -- fueled conspiracy theories and demands for accountability.
"Oversight Democrats will continue to release photographs and documents from the Epstein estate to provide transparency for the American people," the committee&rsquo;s top Democrat, Robert Garcia, said, calling for the Justice Department to "release the Epstein files now."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Oman from Ethiopia, concluding his maiden visit to the East African nation where India and Ethiopia elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership.

PM Modi departs for Oman on last leg of three-nation visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Oman from Ethiopia, concluding his maiden visit to the East African nation where India and Ethiopia elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left for Oman from Ethiopia on the last leg of his four-day, three-nation visit.&nbsp;
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali drove Modi to the airport and personally bid farewell to him as he departed for Oman.
In a social media post, Abiy said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, I hope we will get an opportunity to meet again. Our nations will always be connected by historical, cultural and diplomatic ties."
During Modi's maiden visit to the East African nation, the two countries elevated their historical ties to the level of 'Strategic Partnership'. He also held wide-ranging talks with Abiy, following which, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of various MoUs in various fields.
The Memoranda of Understanding were signed in the fields of UN Peacekeeping Operations Training, Mutual Administrative Assistance in the Customs Matters, and the establishment of Data Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
The two sides also announced debt restructuring under G20, more Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships and AI short courses for Ethiopians, and support for maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Modi also addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian parliament, during which he hailed the two countries as "natural partners" in regional peace, security and connectivity. This was the 18th parliament in the world that Prime Minister Modi has addressed.
"Delighted to have interacted with Ministers and MPs of Ethiopia after my address to the Ethiopian Parliament," he said in a post on X.
The prime minister was conferred Ethiopia's highest award - The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia. He is the first global head of state to receive this award.
He also planted a sapling at the Ethiopian House of People&rsquo;s Representatives, as part of Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Green Legacy initiative, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in an X post.
"Two nations, two traditions, one shared promise to honour our Mother Earth and build a greener future," he said.
Modi on Wednesday underscored the outcomes of his visit to Ethiopia, calling the signing of multiple agreements a &ldquo;significant&rdquo; step in strengthening a bilateral partnership focused on "growth and people-centric development".
Modi is visiting Oman at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, with whom he will hold discussions on strengthening the Strategic Partnership as well as a strong commercial and economic relationship.
The visit will mark 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and follows the state visit of Sultan Tarik to India in December 2023.
Modi is also scheduled to address a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Oman. It will be his second visit to Oman.
"This visit will be an opportunity for both sides to comprehensively review the bilateral partnership, including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, defence, security, technology, agriculture and culture as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in an earlier statement.

The Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka closed early on Wednesday citing the prevailing security situation, a day after India raised concerns with Bangladesh over threats to its mission.

India closes visa application centre in Bangladesh capital due to security situation

The Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka closed early on Wednesday citing the prevailing security situation, a day after India raised concerns with Bangladesh over threats to its mission.

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Wednesday closed its office in view of the current security situation.
The IVAC at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka is the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital.
"In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC JFP Dhaka will be closed at 2 pm today," the IVAC said in a statement.
The IVAC said all applicants with appointment slots scheduled for submission on Wednesday would be rescheduled for a later date.
Earlier in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
"We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations," it said.
It said the envoy was apprised of India's strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

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Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 128


Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 125 6.4 magnitude quake struck western Nepal on Friday night Death toll expected to rise

Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 125

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<li>Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 128</li>
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The official death toll in the remote villages of Nepal's Karnali Province has jumped to 128 with hundreds injured in a strong earthquake that originated in the country's Jajarkot district Friday midnight, The Nepal Times reported on Saturday morning.
The 6.4 magnitude earthquake had its epicentre at the Jajarkot district's Lamidanda. The impact of the quake that took place 11.47 pm Friday was felt in Kathmandu and surrounding districts, and even up to New Delhi in neighbouring India.

US lawmakers urge Bangladesh to protect religious minorities and ensure accountability following the targeted mob killing of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das.

US Lawmakers Denounce Hindu Man's Mob Killing in Bangladesh

US lawmakers urge Bangladesh to protect religious minorities and ensure accountability following the targeted mob killing of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das.

US lawmakers have condemned the targeted mob killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, calling on authorities to protect religious minorities and restore the rule of law.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, amid rising instability and unrest.
Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, called on Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability, protect religious minorities, and restore the rule of law.
"I am appalled by the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man in Bangladesh&mdash;an act of violence amid a period of dangerous instability and unrest,&rdquo; Krishnamoorthi said in a statement Sunday.
&ldquo;While authorities have reported arrests, the Government of Bangladesh must aggressively pursue a full and transparent investigation and prosecute all those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. It must also take urgent action to protect Hindu communities and other religious minorities from further violence. For the sake of all Bangladeshis, this unrest must end and the rule of law must be upheld,&rdquo; he said.
New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar said she is &ldquo;deeply disturbed" by the ongoing violence against Bangladesh's Hindu minority, exemplified most recently by the brutal lynching of Das.
&ldquo;A mob beat him, set him ablaze, and left his body on a highway. Authorities have reportedly arrested twelve individuals in connection with the horrific crime,&rdquo; she said.
Rajkumar said the incident is part of a &ldquo;troubling&rdquo; pattern of religious persecution and targeted violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
She added that the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented 2,442 incidents of violence against minorities and over 150 temples vandalised from August 2024 to July 2025.
&ldquo;From Queens to countries across the globe, we all share in the fear, pain, and uncertainty faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh&rsquo;s Hindu community and for human rights and religious freedom globally,&rdquo; she said.
On December 19, Das was lynched to death and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Bangladesh. Das was a factory worker in Mymensingh city.
At least 12 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder.

US President Donald Trump asserts he prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, claiming Pakistan’s leadership credited him with saving millions of lives.

Trump Claims Credit for Preventing Indo-Pak Nuclear Crisis

US President Donald Trump asserts he prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, claiming Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership credited him with saving millions of lives.

US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict and asserted that Islamabad's leadership credited him for saving millions of lives.
"We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India. And the head of Pakistan, a highly respected General, he's a Field Marshal and also the Prime Minister of Pakistan, said President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more...,&rdquo; Trump said Monday.
He made these remarks at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, flanked by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
&ldquo;You know, eight planes were shot down. That war was starting to rage, and he actually said the other day that President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more. So we solved all these wars. The only one I haven't solved yet is Russia, Ukraine,&rdquo; he said.
Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a &ldquo;full and immediate&rdquo; ceasefire after a &ldquo;long night&rdquo; of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim over 60 times that he &ldquo;helped settle&rdquo; the tensions between the two neighbours.
New Delhi has consistently denied any third-party intervention.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.&nbsp;

Editors of top Bangladeshi newspapers say freedom of expression is overshadowed by journalists’ right to survive, following violent attacks on media offices in Dhaka.

Journalists in Bangladesh Face Violence Amidst Rising Tensions

Editors of top Bangladeshi newspapers say freedom of expression is overshadowed by journalists&rsquo; right to survive, following violent attacks on media offices in Dhaka.

Bangladesh's media is facing a difficult time and the freedom of expression has been overtaken by concerns over journalists' "right to stay alive", editors of several leading Bangladeshi newspapers have said.
The remarks came on Monday in the wake of mobs vandalising and setting ablaze the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star newspapers in Dhaka on Thursday night, trapping several journalists and staff inside for hours as police and fire services were initially prevented from reaching the spot.
"Freedom of expression is no longer the main issue. Now it is about the right to stay alive," Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam said at a press conference attended by senior politicians, business leaders and media owners.
The media in Bangladesh is facing a fight for survival, he said.
Anam said the attacks were aimed at killing journalists and staff rather than being acts of protest against specific newspapers.
Otherwise, the mob would have told journalists to leave before setting the buildings on fire, he said.
Instead, 26-27 media workers were trapped on the rooftop of The Daily Star building while the fire brigade was not allowed to reach them, Anam said.
He also cited social media messages allegedly calling for journalists of the two dailies to be hunted down and killed at their homes.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) defended its delayed intervention, saying immediate action could have worsened the situation.
"The reason we could not go into action there was to ensure that no human life was lost,&rdquo; DMP Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam told reporters.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has said nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the attacks on the offices of the two newspapers and cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, following the death of radical right-wing youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
The newspapers were accused by the attackers of "serving the interests" of India and the deposed prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
A staunch India critic, 32-year-old Hadi was a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising that ousted Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The 32-year-old Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday last week. Hadi was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
While the interim government condemned the attacks, it described the perpetrators as fringe elements, drawing criticism from rights groups and journalists who said authorities failed to prevent the violence despite appeals for protection.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Human Rights Chief Volker Turk express concern over recent lynchings and call for investigations and protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.

UN Voices Concern Over Violence in Bangladesh Targeting Hindus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Human Rights Chief Volker Turk express concern over recent lynchings and call for investigations and protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over the violence in Bangladesh, including the lynching of a Hindu man in the country.
&ldquo;Yes, we're very concerned about the violence that we've seen in Bangladesh,&rdquo; St&eacute;phane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing on Monday.
He was responding to a question on the Secretary-General&rsquo;s response to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and especially the lynchings of Hindus in the last few days.
"Whether it's in Bangladesh or any other country, people who don't belong to the &lsquo;majority&rsquo; need to feel safe, and all Bangladeshis need to feel safe. And we're confident that the Government will do what it can to keep every single Bangladeshi safe,&rdquo; Dujarric said.
Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh last week.
Two more persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with Das&rsquo;s lynching. With the latest arrests, 12 people have been held for their alleged involvement in the murder, The Daily Star newspaper reported, quoting police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sources.
Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has said he was deeply troubled by the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a leader of last year&rsquo;s protests in Bangladesh, who died of his injuries after being shot last week.
Turk called for calm and for everyone to refrain from violence.
&ldquo;Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi&rsquo;s death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible.&rdquo;
With the parliamentary elections scheduled for February, Turk said it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life, and freely express different views.
&ldquo;I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest,&rdquo; Turk said.
The High Commissioner said his Office stands ready to work with the authorities and all stakeholders to support efforts that uphold human rights and prevent further violence.

The US Embassy in India says expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants have led to mass interview postponements and longer processing delays.

Vetting being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H1-B, H-4 visas: US Embassy

The US Embassy in India says expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants have led to mass interview postponements and longer processing delays.

The US Embassy in India on Monday said starting December 15, the United States has "expanded" online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening, and this vetting is being conducted globally for "all applicants of all nationalities" for these two visa categories.
The brief statement by the embassy in a post on social media comes amid pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants slated for later this month in India being abruptly postponed by several months.
Amid the hardship faced by many of these applicants, the US Embassy here posted on X, "WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas (sic)."
The H-1B visa programme is used extensively by American technology companies to employ foreign workers. Indian professionals, including technology workers and physicians, form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders.
The brief statement also comes at a time when the US has launched a crackdown to check abuse of the H-1B visa programme, as also illegal immigration.
The embassy in its post also said, "It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers."
US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 nonimmigrant visa applications, it said, adding, "We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications".
The rescheduling of the interviews is for all applicants who were previously given appointments from December 15 onwards.
The mass cancellation of scheduled interviews of the H-1B visa applicants in view of the enhanced vetting measures is set to result in significant delays in their return to the US.
A large number of applicants have already arrived in India and are now unable to return to the US since they don't have a valid H1B visa to travel back to the US for their jobs.
For example, those whose interviews were scheduled for December 15 had received emails postponing the date to sometime in March. Applicants whose appointments were scheduled for December 19 were given new dates in late May.
The US Embassy through many posts on X in the past several months has underlined that a US visa is "a privilege, not a right".
On June 19, it wrote in a post, "A US visa is a privilege, not a right. US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued &ndash; and we may revoke your visa if you break the law".
On June 23, the US Embassy had asked those applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa to switch the privacy settings of their social media accounts to &ldquo;public&rdquo; to facilitate vetting, which it said was necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the US under law.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had on December 18 said that the US Administration has recently announced that every visa adjudication is a national security decision.
The US has also clarified that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, he said.
"As part of the follow-up measures, the US Administration (through notifications dated June 18 and December 3 respectively) has expanded screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States.
"This is applicable for student and exchange visitor applicants the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications, as well as H-1B applicants and their dependents (H4 visa applicants), further impacting visa appointment schedules," the MoS had said.
Visa issuance and the related policy and procedural frameworks are the sovereign prerogative of the concerned country, Singh said.
The government of India "remains engaged" with the US government to promote mutually advantageous and secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals, as well as facilitating short-term tourist and business travel, he had said in his written response.

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