The US State Department condemned the recent spate of religious violence in Bangladesh as a powerful US lawmaker described the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh, as “horrific,” urging unequivocal condemnation of religious hatred. “The United States supports religious freedom and freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” the spokesperson told IANS, responding to a question on the recent killing of Das and the spate of attacks on the minorities in Bangladesh. “The United States unequivocally condemns religious violence in all its forms, and we welcome measures the Bangladeshi Interim Government is taking to ensure the safety and security for all communities in Bangladesh,” the spokesperson added. State Department’s response came amid growing concern in Washington and among advocacy groups over the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh, and reports of a broader pattern of attacks on minority communities. US lawmakers have also spoken out strongly on the incident. Congressman Ro Khanna described the killing as “horrific” and urged unequivocal condemnation of religious hatred. “The killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh, is horrific, and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family,” Khanna said on X. “We must unequivocally condemn and speak out against these vile acts of hatred and bigotry,” he added. A garment worker from Bhaluka, Bangladesh, Dipu Chandra Das, lost his life on December 18. He was attacked by a mob, beaten to death, and his body set ablaze following allegations of blasphemy. The killing has intensified scrutiny of the situation facing religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, following political upheaval in the country. Advocacy groups say attacks on minority communities have increased, citing incidents of mob violence, vandalism, and intimidation across several regions. While the State Department did not provide details on diplomatic engagements, its response to IANS emphasized condemnation of religious violence and welcomed steps taken by Bangladesh’s interim authorities to ensure security for all communities. US officials have consistently maintained that support for religious freedom and protection of minority rights are core elements of American foreign policy. Groups say attacks on minority communities have increased, citing incidents of mob violence, vandalism, and intimidation across several regions. While the State Department did not provide details on diplomatic engagements, its response to IANS emphasized condemnation of religious violence and welcomed steps taken by Bangladesh’s interim authorities to ensure security for all communities. US officials have consistently maintained that support for religious freedom and protection of minority rights are core elements of American foreign policy, and that concerns are raised through diplomatic channels when necessary. The United States regularly addresses religious freedom issues in its global human rights reporting and bilateral engagements. South Asia, including Bangladesh, has featured prominently in such discussions due to its complex social fabric and history of communal tensions. The State Department’s response underscores Washington’s stated position that religious violence is unacceptable and that ensuring the safety of all communities remains essential for long-term stability, as the situation in Bangladesh continues to draw close international attention. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2025 09:48 AM IST | Washington | IANSVoters went to the polls on Sunday for the initial phase of Myanmar's first general election in five years, held under the supervision of its military government while a civil war rages throughout much of the country. Critics charge that the election is designed to add a facade of legitimacy to military rule, which began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Her party won a landslide victory in the 2020 election but was blocked from taking office for a second term. In Yangon, the country's largest city, Naypyitaw, the capital, and elsewhere, voters were casting their ballots at high schools, government buildings and religious buildings. Critics argue that the results will lack legitimacy due to the exclusion of major parties and limits on freedom of speech and an atmosphere of repression. They contend that the expected victory of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party makes the nominal transition to civilian rule a chimera. However, holding the election may provide an excuse for neighbours like China, India and Thailand to continue their support, claiming the election promotes stability. Western nations have maintained sanctions against Myanmar's ruling generals due to their anti-democratic actions and the brutal war against their opponents. Security in Yangon, the country's largest city, had visibly stiffened on Saturday, with armed guards stationed outside polling stations and military trucks patrolling the roads. Election officials set up equipment and installed electronic voting machines, which are being used for the first time in Myanmar. While opposition organisations and armed resistance groups had vowed to disrupt the electoral process, no major actions were carried out. Suu Kyi, Myanmar's 80-year-old former leader, is not participating as she serves a 27-year prison term on charges widely viewed as politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules. Other parties also refused to register or declined to run under conditions they deem unfair, and opposition groups have called for a voter boycott. Amael Vier, an analyst for the Asian Network for Free Elections, noted a lack of genuine choice, pointing out that 73 per cent of voters in 2020 cast ballots for parties that no longer exist. Mobilising opposition is difficult under the military's repression. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 22,000 people are currently detained for political offences, and over 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since they seized power in 2021. Armed resistance arose after the army used lethal force to crush non-violent protests against its 2021 takeover. The ensuing civil war has left more than 3.6 million (36 lakh) people displaced, according to the UN. A new Election Protection Law has added harsh penalties and restrictions, effectively barring all public criticism of the polls. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has stated that Myanmar is witnessing intensified violence and intimidation, noting that there are no conditions for the exercise of freedom of expression or peaceful assembly. In these circumstances, both the military and its opponents believe power is likely to remain with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 seizure of power. Voting is taking place in three phases, with Sunday's first round being held in 102 of Myanmar's 330 townships. The second phase will take place on January 11, and the third on January 25. Final results are expected to be announced in late January. While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six are competing nationwide with the possibility to gain political clout in Parliament. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2025 09:42 AM IST | Yangon | AP | PTIAfter Russia unleashed a fresh wave of strikes on Kyiv and nearby regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russian leader Vladimir Putin a "man of war." Speaking in Halifax, Nova Scotia, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Zelensky linked the prolonged assault to Russia's intentions, a day before his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida. "We want peace," Zelensky said. "And he's a man of war." Zelensky made a stop in Canada as he prepared for talks with Trump on Sunday in Florida, where he is expected to present a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long conflict. Trump has earlier stated that any peace proposal would require his "approval." During his stopover, Zelensky held discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as well as leaders from NATO and the European Union. He urged strong positions on both the battlefield and the diplomatic front to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from manipulating and evading a real and just end to the war." Following the meetings, Zelensky wrote in a post on X, "Strong positions are needed both at the front and in diplomacy to prevent Putin from manipulating and evading a real and just end to the war. The world has sufficient strength to guarantee security and peace." The remarks came hours after Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and surrounding regions, killing at least two people and injuring four others. Zelensky alleged that Russia fired more than 500 drones and over 40 missiles during the attack. According to CNN, the assault lasted more than 10 hours, disrupting daily life in Kyiv and causing widespread power outages that lasted for several hours. In a post on X, Zelensky said, "Another Russian attack is still ongoing: since last night, there have been almost 500 drones - a large number of 'shaheds' - as well as 40 missiles, including Kinzhals. The primary target is Kyiv - energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Regrettably, there have been hits, and ordinary residential buildings have been damaged. Rescuers are searching for a person trapped under the rubble of one of them. In some districts of the capital and the region, electricity and heating are currently unavailable. Firefighting efforts are underway. Repair crews have already begun work at some energy facilities; at others, personnel remain in shelters, and rescuers and repair teams will start work as soon as the air raid alerts stop." The attack came a day after Zelensky confirmed his upcoming meeting with Trump. The Ukrainian president is scheduled to meet the US leader at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday, December 28, 2025, where discussions will focus on the peace plan and potential US security guarantees. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2025 09:34 AM IST | Nova Scotia (Canada) | ANIAt least 25 students were injured in a mob attack in Bangladesh that forced the cancellation of a concert by popular rock singer James, who has also sung several hit Hindi film songs, officials and organisers have said. The incident occurred on Friday night in Faridpur, amid a recent spate of attacks on cultural institutions in the country. In recent weeks, organisations such as Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi in Dhaka have been vandalised. James’ concert was to mark the closing of Faridpur Zilla School’s 185th anniversary celebrations. Just before the programme was due to begin, a group of outsiders tried to force entry after being turned away, throwing bricks and stones and attempting to seize the stage. Students of the school resisted the attackers, and at least 25 were injured by flying debris, according to the organisers. The concert was cancelled at 10 pm. James James, the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of the Bangladeshi rock band Nagar Baul, has sung in several hit Bollywood films, including Gangster, Woh Lamhe, and Life in a Metro. Rajibul Hasan Khan, convener of the programme’s publicity and media sub-committee, said, “We could not understand why and who carried out the attack on James’ concert. Considering the overall situation, we were compelled to cancel the programme following instructions from the district administration.” The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government had failed to control mobs, and critics of the interim government allege that these incidents of violence and arson are being orchestrated to create a law-and-order situation so that elections scheduled in February are postponed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2025 08:27 AM IST | Dhaka | AgenciesThe Consulate General of India in Toronto has established a ‘One Stop Centre for Women,’ a dedicated support centre exclusively to assist women Indian nationals in distress. The Consulate has set up a 24x7 helpline and said, the new Centre aims to provide critical and timely support to Indian passport holder women. “This, inter-alia, would include Counselling and emotional support through empanelled NGOs. All the financial assistance will be on means tested basis as per Government of India’s Rules,” the statement said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2025 08:24 AM IST | Toronto | AgenciesA winter storm sweeping across large parts of the United States has caused widespread disruption to air travel, forcing airlines to cancel more than 2100 flights and delay tens of thousands more during the busy holiday travel period. According to FlightAware data report, airlines cancelled 2178 flights and delayed 29,057 others nationwide as of Friday afternoon. Several major US carriers, including JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines, were forced to adjust schedules as the storm intensified. JetBlue Airways topped the list with 225 cancelled flights, followed by Delta Air Lines with 186 cancellations. Republic Airways cancelled 157 flights, while 146 were cancelled by American Airlines and 97 by United Airlines. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned, “Road conditions will be treacherous for those traveling back from the holiday.” “Due to winter storm Devin, JetBlue has cancelled approximately 350 flights today and tomorrow, primarily in the Northeast where the airline has a large operation,” a JetBlue spokesperson said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2025 08:22 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that he plans to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as part of efforts to push forward a peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported. Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy said the meeting could help move discussions closer to a settlement, though he cautioned that no final agreement should be expected immediately. He said both sides would focus on completing as many unresolved points as possible. Zelenskyy also added that the 20-point peace plan proposed by US and Ukrainian officials is 90 per cent ready. He added that talks with Trump would centre on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and the role of its allies in ensuring stability after the war. CNN reported that there was no immediate confirmation from the White House about the proposed meeting. Zelenskyy's comments come amid renewed diplomatic activity, with Kyiv signalling openness to discussions on issues that have stalled previous negotiations. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy said in a post on X that Ukraine and the US had agreed to hold a high-level meeting soon, adding that significant decisions could be taken before the New Year. Zelenskyy wrote on X after the latest round of discussions between Ukrainian and US negotiators, "We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level - with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year." These developments followed talks held on Thursday, when the Ukrainian leader met Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner as part of ongoing consultations. Updating on the substance of those discussions, Zelenskyy noted that several documents forming part of a broader framework aimed at ending the conflict and supporting Ukraine's reconstruction were "nearly ready" while others were "fully prepared". This diplomatic activity comes after Zelenskyy earlier this week presented a 20-point draft peace plan, which he described as the principal framework for ending the war. While the plan envisages Ukraine receiving security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression, there has been no agreement between Ukraine and the US on territorial issues, as Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv cede territory. In addition to territorial questions, the issue of control over the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains unresolved and subject to further discussions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 11:17 AM IST | Kyiv | ANIThree women were stabbed at different Paris metro stations on Friday, causing panic among commuters. The attacks took place within a short span of time on Metro Line 3, French authorities said, Euro News reported. According to the prosecutor's office, the man attacked three women with a knife at Republique, Arts et Metiers and Opera stations around 4 pm. All three victims were given medical treatment and are safe. Police said the suspect was identified and tracked using CCTV footage from the metro stations and location data from his mobile phone. He was later arrested in the Paris region. The Paris public transport operator RATP said firefighters reached the stations quickly, police teams secured the area, and additional security staff were deployed on the affected metro line to reassure passengers. France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the police and security agencies for quickly identifying and arresting the suspect. "I congratulate the investigators and police officers of the regional transport police of the @prefpolice who identified and then apprehended, along with the #ValdOise police officers, the alleged perpetrator of the knife attacks committed in the Parisian metro this afternoon, particularly thanks to the video surveillance camera network and their exceptional knowledge of the terrain," he wrote in an X post. Transport police have registered a case of attempted homicide and assault with a weapon. The police are now trying to establish the motive behind the attacks. Security remains tight across France, especially during the New Year as the festivities begin. European capitals are on high alert due to past violent incidents and threats targeting public places and festive gatherings. Last week, Minister Nunez had already asked officials to maintain "maximum vigilance" across the country. He cited a very high terror threat level and the risk of public disorder, and directed authorities to increase visible security presence to deter attacks, France 24 reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 11:15 AM IST | Paris | AgenciesTurkish security forces have detained 115 suspected members of the ISIS terrorist group during nationwide operations linked to possible attacks planned around Christmas and New Year celebrations, CNN reported. According to a statement issued by the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office on Thursday, arrest warrants were issued for 137 suspects after investigators found that ISIS operatives were preparing to carry out attacks in Turkey during the year-end holiday period. The prosecutors said intelligence inputs suggested that the group was targeting the country during upcoming festive events, with a particular focus on non-Muslim individuals. Authorities also said the suspects were in contact with conflict zones as part of their activities linked to the terrorist organisation, CNN reported. "Information was found that the ISIS Armed Terrorist Organisation was planning to carry out actions targeting our country, especially non-Muslim individuals, within the scope of the upcoming Christmas and New Year events," the statement said. Police carried out coordinated raids at 124 locations across different parts of Turkey. During the operations, security teams seized pistols, ammunition and documents believed to be linked to the group's activities. Efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the remaining 22 suspects named in the warrants. Turkey usually increases counter-terrorism measures towards the end of the year, especially after a deadly ISIS attack at the Reina nightclub in Istanbul during New Year celebrations in 2017, in which dozens of people were killed. Deadly stabbing and shooting attacks are happening around the world as the New Year nears. Earlier this month, at least 15 people died in a horrific shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach after a father-son duo opened fire at innocent poeple celebrating Hanukkah. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:46 AM IST | Istanbul | ANIWhen it comes to celebrating the holiday season, Josef Kardinal can get a bit obsessive. The German man has ramped up his Christmas spirits by owning more than 11,000 snow globes — the largest collection in the world. Kardinal first earned his Guinness World Record back in 2002 when he owned a mere 6100 of them — and kept on amassing the winter treasures, which have since grown to 11,017. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:44 AM IST | Berlin | AgenciesFour astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) — NASA’s Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Chris Williams, and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency — sent a video Christmas card home from 400 km above Earth. “Greetings to Earth, all of our friends and family, from aboard the ISS, flying high above,” mission commander Fincke says in the video. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 December,2025 10:42 AM IST | Texas | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
