'Act Now': Global Body Flags Rise In Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh Ahead Of Polls

A broad international alliance of human rights organisations, faith groups, and civil society leaders has issued an urgent global appeal warning that Hindus in Bangladesh are facing escalating violence and systematic persecution.

The development comes as Bangladesh heads for the February 12 general election to choose new leadership and bring an end to the 18-month Yunus-led interim regime.

With Bangladesh's general elections scheduled for February 12, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is once again under international scrutiny.

President Donald Trump has not discussed "formal plans" to deploy US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling sites at November's midterm elections, the White House said on Thursday.

The United States and Bangladesh are set to sign a trade agreement on February 9, just 72 hours before the national election on February 12. The deal has faced significant criticism because of secrecy surrounding its terms.

Japan's currency has weakened for the past four trading days, and is approaching 157 against the dollar on Thursday morning.

US President Donald Trump's Republican Party has taken a step closer to staging a highly unusual party convention to prop him up and sell his message to voters ahead of crucial midterm elections in November.

With the Jamaat-e-Islami expected to get its biggest-ever win in the upcoming elections, the US is stepping up engagement with Bangladesh's largest Islamist party.

US President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance - in thought, not in person -Thursday as the Supreme Court heard challenges to the Election Commission's special intensive revision of voter lists months before high-profile state polls.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 0.9%, with the Japanese currency slipping past the 159-per-dollar level to the weakest since July 2024.