Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen praised Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, calling him highly competent and expressing full confidence in his abilities. In an interview with PTI at his Santiniketan residence, Sen described Yunus as an extraordinary person and an old friend. He warned against banning the Awami League, stating that it would repeat past mistakes. While concerned about Bangladesh’s political situation, Sen remains hopeful for a freer and fairer election and believes Yunus faces significant challenges ahead.

An avalanche near the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, India, claimed the lives of four workers on Friday. The disaster occurred in Mana village near the India-China border, trapping 55 personnel from the Border Roads Organization. According to ANI, 50 workers have been rescued, while efforts continue to save the remaining five. A rescue operation involving 60 to 65 personnel was launched immediately after the incident, but adverse weather conditions have hampered progress.

In Maharashtra, India, a Muslim businessman’s shop was bulldozed after he was accused of chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” during an India-Pakistan cricket match on Sunday. The incident led to heightened tensions, resulting in the arrest of two individuals. Following the incident, Sindhudurg MLA Nilesh Rane directed the Malvan Municipality to take strict action. Subsequently, the businessman’s shop was demolished in the presence of police officials. Images of the bulldozed shop have gone viral on social media, with Rane labeling the shop owner as an “outsider.”

Tensions have flared once again in India’s Manipur state. On Friday, a group of devotees visited Kongba Maru, a sacred site for the Meitei community. Security officials reported that as the devotees arrived under security escort, armed Kuki militants fired seven rounds at them from a nearby hill.

Following the incident, additional security forces were deployed to the area. Local residents took to the streets in protest, demanding the dismantling of bunkers in the hills to ensure the safety of the Meitei community.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, an armed Meitei group in Manipur voluntarily surrendered 246 weapons to security forces, signaling an effort toward de-escalation.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the deportation of alleged illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants residing in and around New Delhi. In a meeting with Delhi Police on Friday, he instructed authorities to take immediate action against those living in the capital without valid documents.

A senior police official stated that an inspection is underway in colonies where Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are known to reside. Efforts have begun to identify individuals using forged documents or staying without any paperwork. Shah has urged law enforcement to adopt a stricter approach in handling the issue.

Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar accused India of illegally occupying Jammu and Kashmir during a session at the UN Human Rights Council. In response, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, K. Tyagi, dismissed the claims as baseless and driven by Pakistani military directives. He criticized Pakistan for wasting the UN’s time, labeling it a failed state that survives on international aid. Tyagi further accused Pakistan of severe human rights violations, persecution of minorities, and sheltering UN-designated terrorists, asserting that Pakistan has no moral standing to lecture others.

Following Nahid Islam’s resignation from the advisory council to join a political party, Indian journalist Arka Dev recalled meeting him and the scars from his July 22 ordeal. In a social media post, he expressed suspicion toward those who conveniently forget the brutality Nahid endured. Dev remarked that Nahid and his comrades had fought through hardships, embracing known and unknown martyrs in their struggle to form a government—right or wrong, at least they tried. He noted that Nahid and Mahfuz had internal conflicts but ultimately chose the difficult path, abandoning government privileges to seek new possibilities.

The US has imposed sanctions on four Indian companies for their involvement in selling and transporting petroleum products to Iran. According to the US State Department, the sanctioned entities include Flux Maritime LLP, BSM Marine LLP, Austinship Management Pvt Ltd, and Cosmos Lines Inc. US Treasury official Scott Bassant warned that any entity engaged in Iran’s energy sector would face similar restrictions. Additionally, firms from Hong Kong, China, and the UAE have also been sanctioned.

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition filed by an ISKCON leader requesting the Indian government to take immediate and effective action against alleged violence and persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar ruled that the court cannot interfere in the internal affairs of another country. The judges remarked that judicial intervention in such matters would be highly unusual. The petitioner had also sought an extension of the citizenship application deadline for Hindus fleeing Bangladesh due to alleged violence, a request the court ultimately rejected.

During a meeting in Muscat with Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser Tawhid Hossain, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar criticized certain Bangladeshi political figures for their contradictory stance. He pointed out that while some blame India for internal issues, they simultaneously seek strong bilateral relations. He stated that Dhaka must decide what kind of relationship it wants with New Delhi. Jaishankar also expressed concerns over communal violence in Bangladesh, reminding them of India’s role in 1971.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Kolkata and Odisha on Tuesday morning, with mild tremors felt in Dhaka due to its proximity. Reports from Live Mint indicate that the earthquake’s epicenter was in the Bay of Bengal, 91 kilometers below the surface. The Hindustan Times reported that the quake was felt at 6:10 AM. No casualties or damages have been reported so far. A separate earthquake of magnitude 3.7 was also recorded in Himachal Pradesh the same day.

Kangana Ranaut has criticized Bollywood for distorting the traditional concept of marriage. In response to the film Mrs., where a woman sacrifices her dreams for her in-laws, Kangana objected to the portrayal of joint families and housewives being compared to paid workers. She emphasized that marriage is not only about personal attention but also about supporting the elderly and newborns. Kangana argued that marriage should be about fulfilling one’s duties, as per traditional values, and that Bollywood films have tarnished this concept.

According to Indian media outlet NDTV, a tragic accident occurred in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday when a jeep returning from the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela collided with a bus. The crash resulted in six fatalities and left two others critically injured. The victims were residents of Karnataka. District Collector Deepak Saxena stated that the jeep driver lost control, hitting a road divider and a tree before veering onto the highway’s opposite lane, where it collided with an oncoming bus. All six passengers in the jeep died on the spot.

Speaking at an event at Delhi University on Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over allegations made by the Trump administration regarding USAID. He stated that while USAID was originally allowed to operate in good faith, recent disclosures by Trump officials raise serious concerns. “It appears that certain individuals have been actively shaping a particular narrative,” Jaishankar remarked. The Indian government is currently investigating the matter. Previously, the U.S. had canceled a $21 million grant meant to influence Indian voters ahead of upcoming elections.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to auction $10 billion through a three-year currency swap to address the banking sector’s liquidity crisis. This initiative, starting February 28, aims to inject approximately 870 billion rupees into the system. Analysts suggest it may also signal a shift in RBI’s forex policy. Despite a recent repo rate cut, cash shortages persist. The RBI has already infused 3.6 trillion rupees into banks, but further measures are needed as the liquidity deficit reaches 1.7 trillion rupees.