Bangladesh runs out of resources for Rohingya refugees

Bangladesh cannot allocate more resources for its 1.3m Rohingya refugees, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said Monday, urging the international community to find a sustainable solution. Half of the refugees are children, most having fled Myanmar’s 2017 military crackdown described by the UN as ethnic cleansing, Reuters reported.

Hosting them has strained Bangladesh’s economy, environment, and governance. Yunus stressed the need for a practical roadmap for safe return. Refugees in Cox’s Bazar live in overcrowded shelters with limited aid, while new arrivals from Rakhine state highlight the ongoing crisis and uncertain future.

 

India to tap Amazon, Flipkart data directly in inflation revamp, roll out services index

India will overhaul its benchmark inflation index to include online retail prices, the statistics ministry said, aiming to better capture shifting consumer habits. The move involves sourcing data directly from e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Flipkart, as well as scraping prices from 12 major cities with populations above 2.5m, Reuters reported.

The update seeks to make the Consumer Price Index (CPI) more timely and representative, reflecting growing household spending on e-commerce, airfares, and streaming services. E-commerce firms will provide weekly average prices, which the government will cross-check against broader datasets before inclusion.

The revised CPI, incorporating updated weightages as recent surveys show a declining share of spending on food, is expected to roll out early next year. According to Reuters, India had around 270m online shoppers in 2024, highlighting the rising significance of digital consumption.

 

Four journalists among 15 dead in Israeli strike on hospital, Gaza officials say

At least 15 people, including four journalists, were killed in an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, authorities reported. Among the dead were Reuters cameraman Husam al-Masri and freelance AP journalist Mariam Dagga. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Salameh and NBC photographer Muath Abu Taha were also killed, BBC reported.

The Hamas-run Civil Defence said some casualties resulted from a second strike while rescuers were at the scene. Images from the hospital show smoke rising from the damaged upper floors as people flee amid chaos.

The Israeli military and prime minister’s office had no immediate comment on the attack, according to BBC.

Nine dead in north India road mishap

At least nine people died and around 50 others were injured, some critically, when a truck rammed into a vehicle carrying pilgrims in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district early Monday morning, Xinhua reported.

The accident occurred at approximately 2:15 a.m. (local time) as the group was traveling to a temple in neighboring Rajasthan. Police said two of the injured are in critical condition.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision and providing assistance to the victims and their families, according to Xinhua.

India stands firm on Russian oil despite US tariff pressure

India says it will keep buying oil where it gets the best deal, even as President Donald Trump’s new tariffs threaten penalties for Russian imports. Ambassador Vinay Kumar stressed that Delhi’s priority is energy security for its 1.4bn people, calling the US move “unfair and unjustified”, BBC reported.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar defended the policy, pointing out that Washington has not imposed similar penalties on China or Europe, both of whom still trade heavily with Moscow. Russian crude now makes up nearly 40 percent of India’s imports, up from 3 percent before the war.

India has avoided condemning Russia while maintaining ties with Ukraine, urging peace through dialogue. According to BBC, both Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Vladimir Putin are expected to visit India later this year.

Vietnam's Veep Xuan pays courtesy call on President Paudel

Visiting Vice President of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel on Monday.

During the meeting held at Sheetal Niwas, President Paudel said there is huge potential to strengthen economic relations through trade, tourism, investment and technology transfer between Nepal and Vietnam.

"The government of Nepal is willing to expedite bilateral collaboration for the same", said President Paudel's press advisor Kiran Pokharel, quoting the President.

President Paudel reminded that Nepal is focused on socio-economic transformation in agriculture, tourism, production and hydropower sectors through investment.

Stating that Buddhism in particular is a bridge to deepen relations between the people of the two countries, he mentioned that listing Lumbini as a place to visit once in their lives by many Vietnamese people is the matter of happiness.

On the occasion, Vice President Xuan opined that Nepal has to prepare a framework of broader relations between the two countries before 2030 in the context that Nepal has aspired to become a middle-income country by 2030 while Vietnam has set a goal to become a high-income country by 2045.

She stressed on the need for the collaboration between the two countries in the sector of culture, sports and tourism.

Xuan argued that she was impressed by the untiring efforts of Nepal in maintaining peace as well as commitments made in reducing climate change impacts.

 

Vietnam prepares to evacuate half a million people ahead of Typhoon Kajiki

Vietnam has evacuated tens of thousands as Typhoon Kajiki nears landfall, forcing airport closures, flight cancellations, and a ban on ships at sea. Authorities plan to move over half a million people, warning of heavy rain, floods, and landslides, according to Al Jazeera.

The storm, with winds up to 166 km/h, is expected to hit Monday afternoon. More than 120,000 troops and paramilitary forces are on standby for rescue efforts. Vietnam, prone to deadly storms, has already seen over 100 disaster-related deaths this year. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed 300 people and caused $3.3bn in damage.

 

  

Two Indian nationals held with 147 grams of brown sugar in Biratnagar

Police have arrested two Indian nationals with 147 grams of brown sugar from Biratnagar on Sunday.

The arrestees have been identified as Mohammad Saddam Hussain (30) of Shivanapur-4, Katihar and Bamkim Karmakar (32) of Kharsota-5, Katihar, DSP Kopila Chundal, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Morang, said.

A joint team of the Area Police Office, Rani and the Narcotic Control Bureau of Nepal Police apprehended them on Sunday evening.

Police are preparing to file a case under the Narcotics Act against both the people kept at the Area Police Office, Rani.