Around 30,000 tons of Indian onions are reportedly rotting near the Bangladesh border after Dhaka temporarily suspended onion imports, leaving Indian exporters in severe distress. The affected consignments are mainly stored in West Bengal’s Malda and South Dinajpur districts, where traders had stocked onions anticipating regular exports to Bangladesh. With the ban in place, prices have plummeted to as low as 2 rupees per kilogram at the Mahadipur-Sonamasjid border, compared to 20–22 rupees in local markets. Exporters claim they had procured onions from Maharashtra’s Nashik region based on verbal commitments from Bangladeshi importers, who are now unable to take delivery. The suspension reportedly followed a notice from Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture on November 16. Local trade associations warn that if the border remains closed, many exporters could face bankruptcy due to the massive financial losses incurred.

The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a new FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of criminal conspiracy in the National Herald money laundering case. The complaint, based on a report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), names six individuals including Sam Pitroda and three companies—Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Kolkata-based Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd. Authorities allege that Dotex transferred ₹1 crore to Young Indian, a non-profit where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold a combined 76% stake. Using this transaction, Young Indian allegedly gained control of AJL, which owns assets worth about ₹2,000 crore, after paying only ₹50 lakh to the Congress party. The FIR was registered on October 3 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Congress has dismissed the case as politically motivated, calling it a vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The National Herald, founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru and other freedom fighters, ceased publication in 2008 due to financial distress.

India has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Puducherry as Cyclone Ditwa moves rapidly toward the southeastern coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclone is expected to pass near the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts on Sunday. Chennai airport authorities have canceled 54 flights as a precaution. Wind speeds are reaching 70–80 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h, and heavy rainfall has already affected the region. IMD officials warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas and advised residents to stay indoors. Fishermen have been instructed not to venture into the sea. While major damage is not anticipated, agricultural fields may suffer losses. The Tamil Nadu government stated that it is fully prepared to handle any emergency situation arising from the cyclone’s impact.

Around 30,000 tons of Indian onions are reportedly rotting at the Bangladesh border after Dhaka abruptly halted imports to protect local farmers. Exporters from West Bengal and Maharashtra, who had shipped onions to border points like Mahadipur, Petrapole, Ghojadanga, and Hili, are now facing heavy losses. The onions, purchased at around 16 rupees per kilogram and transported at a total cost of 22 rupees, are being sold for as little as 2 rupees per kilogram to avoid total spoilage. In Mahadipur alone, nearly 20,000 tons of onions are stuck, with traders employing workers daily to separate rotten stock. Exporters claim they acted on verbal assurances from Bangladeshi importers, making the sudden ban particularly damaging. Meanwhile, retail onion prices in Indian markets remain between 20 and 30 rupees per kilogram, and traders fear further price drops once stored stock reaches the market. Consumers and traders alike have criticized both state and central governments for mismanagement.

India’s onion export industry is facing a sharp downturn as key buyers Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia reduce imports and turn to alternative suppliers like Pakistan and China. According to The Economic Times, India’s repeated export bans to control domestic prices have pushed traditional buyers to seek new sources and even develop self-sufficiency using Indian onion seeds. Experts note that Bangladesh, once importing nearly three-quarters of India’s total onion exports, has drastically cut purchases in the past eight months despite high domestic prices. Saudi Arabia has also limited imports for nearly a year, preferring cheaper onions from Yemen and Iran. Exporters say India’s absence from the global market during export bans allowed competitors to capture market share. Officials warn that India’s dominance in the global onion trade is weakening as former buyers become producers themselves, posing long-term risks to Indian farmers and exporters.

Armenia has suspended negotiations to purchase India’s Tejas fighter jets following a crash during the Dubai Airshow, where an Indian Air Force pilot was killed. The deal, valued at $1.2 billion for 12 aircraft, was in its final stages between the Armenian government and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to The Jerusalem Post, this would have been the first export contract for the Tejas, a 4.5-generation multirole combat aircraft developed by India to replace its aging MiG-21 fleet. The crash has raised concerns about the aircraft’s reliability and could impact India’s ambitions to become a major defense exporter. Neither the Armenian nor Indian governments have issued official statements regarding the suspension. The Tejas A1 variant, currently in production, includes Israeli radar and electronic warfare systems aimed at improving its competitiveness with Western fighters.

In Maharashtra’s Kalyan region, three Muslim students were humiliated by Hindu extremists after performing prayers inside a classroom at Ideal College. Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal filmed the students praying and circulated the video online, accusing them of hurting Hindu sentiments. The extremists then forced the students to apologize and bow before a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj while police officers reportedly stood by without intervening. Eyewitnesses said the students were surrounded and threatened with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram,' a slogan often used to intimidate Muslims. Local Muslim organizations condemned the incident as part of a growing pattern of anti-Muslim harassment across BJP-ruled states, citing police inaction and rising intolerance. Social activists in Mumbai warned that such incidents are deepening fear among Muslim families and students. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned rising Islamophobia in India and urged the international community to take notice.

Tensions between India and China have resurfaced after an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was allegedly detained and harassed for 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport. The woman, Prema Wangjam Thongdok, was traveling from the UK to Japan when Chinese authorities questioned the validity of her Indian passport, claiming Arunachal Pradesh is part of China’s ‘South Tibet’. She was reportedly pressured to buy a new ticket and suffered financial losses before being released with help from the Indian consulate. China denied any wrongdoing, asserting it acted within its laws, while India reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of its territory and accused China of violating international transit norms. The incident has reignited long-standing disputes over the McMahon Line and territorial claims dating back to colonial times. Analysts believe the episode may not severely impact bilateral relations, which had shown signs of stabilization since the 2020 Galwan clash, but mutual distrust remains entrenched.

The Assam government has introduced the 'Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025' in the state assembly, aiming to outlaw polygamy across the state except in Sixth Schedule areas. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the bill, which classifies polygamy as a criminal offense. Under the proposed law, individuals marrying again while their spouse is alive could face up to seven years in prison, while concealing a previous marriage could result in up to ten years of imprisonment and fines. The legislation also holds accountable anyone involved in facilitating such marriages, including priests, qazis, and guardians. Victims of polygamy would be entitled to compensation, and repeat offenders would face double penalties. Convicted individuals would be barred from government jobs, welfare schemes, and contesting local elections. The bill excludes Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as defined under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution. The move follows the Assam government’s ongoing efforts to reform personal laws and ensure gender justice.

Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the international community about what it describes as growing Islamophobia and deliberate destruction of Islamic heritage in India. In a statement released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the recent flag-hoisting ceremony at the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya, constructed on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque. Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the event reflects a broader trend of pressure on religious minorities under a majoritarian Hindutva ideology. He alleged that several historic mosques in India face threats of desecration or demolition, while Indian Muslims are increasingly marginalized socially, economically, and politically. Pakistan urged the United Nations and other international bodies to play a constructive role in safeguarding Islamic heritage and protecting the religious and cultural rights of all minorities. Islamabad also called on New Delhi to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the safety of all religious communities and their places of worship.

United Nations human rights experts have voiced serious concern over alleged abuses by Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir following a militant attack in Pahalgam in April. The experts criticized India's sweeping security operations, arbitrary detentions, torture, property demolitions, and communication restrictions imposed after the attack. They reported that around 2,800 people, including journalists and human rights defenders, were detained under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which allow prolonged detention without trial. The experts described these laws as overly broad and vague. Reports also indicated instances of torture, incommunicado detention, and discriminatory treatment of Kashmiri Muslims. The UN experts condemned punitive demolitions and forced evictions carried out without court orders, calling them a form of collective punishment that violates India’s Supreme Court ruling of 2024, which deemed such actions unconstitutional. They urged India to ensure compliance with international human rights law even while addressing security threats.

In Maharashtra’s Kalyan region, three Muslim students were publicly humiliated by Hindu extremists who forced them to bow before a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The incident occurred after a video showing the students offering prayers in an empty classroom went viral online. Members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal reportedly stormed Ideal College, demanding the students apologize and perform the act of obeisance while chanting religious slogans. Witnesses said police officers present at the scene did not intervene. Local Muslim residents and parents of the victims condemned the incident, accusing the college administration of yielding to mob pressure and preparing disciplinary action against the victims instead of the perpetrators. Rights groups and community leaders said the event reflects a growing pattern of harassment and intimidation of Muslims in BJP-ruled states, where extremist groups allegedly act with impunity and law enforcement fails to protect minorities.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially released the full schedule and group details for the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka during February and March. Bangladesh has been placed in Group C alongside two-time champions England and West Indies, as well as associate members Nepal and Italy. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The tournament will open on February 7 with a match between Pakistan and the Netherlands, while Bangladesh will face the West Indies on the same day in Kolkata. Bangladesh’s subsequent matches are scheduled against Italy on February 9, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17. Other groups include India, Pakistan, and the United States in Group A; Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B; and South Africa and New Zealand in Group D.

A Bangladeshi student named Shahriar was found dead, hanging from a ceiling fan in a rented apartment in Greater Noida’s Beta-2 area, part of India’s National Capital Region. The discovery was made after the landlord, unable to contact him for over a day, entered the room and alerted police. Shahriar had been living with a woman named Rupa, a resident of Bihar, who claimed to be his wife. The couple had rented the room for 8,000 rupees on November 17. Police reported that Rupa was last seen leaving the residence on November 21. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of death, with officials stating that further details will be known after the autopsy report is released.

A new controversy has erupted in India after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) removed the title 'Great' from the names of Mughal emperor Akbar and Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan in newly printed school textbooks. The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of rewriting history to align with its ideological narrative and diminishing the contributions of Muslim rulers. BJP and its ideological ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), defended the move, calling it a long-overdue correction. Congress leaders, including Imran Masood, K. Muraleedharan, and Harish Rawat, criticized the decision as politically motivated and warned of further historical distortions ahead of the 2029 national elections. RSS leader Sunil Ambekar stated that the leaders were not removed from textbooks but that students should also learn about their alleged misdeeds. The updated NCERT books have already been distributed to over 24,000 CBSE schools across India, fueling a broader debate over historical interpretation and political influence in education.