Page 2 - South Asia

Mamdani's NYC mayoral primary win leaves South Asians, Muslims electrified

The success of Zohran Mamdani in New York City's Democratic primary for mayor is euphoric for Hari Kondabolu, a stand-up comedian who's been friends with the candidate for 15 years. Mamdani stunned the political establishment when he declared victory in the primary on Tuesday, a ranked choice election in which his strongest competition, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, conceded defeat. When he launched his campaign, the unabashed democratic socialist ranked near the bottom of the pack. Now, the 33-year-old state assemblyman has a chance to be New York City's first Asian American and Muslim mayor. Mamdani's family came to the United States when he was 7, and he became a citizen in 2018. He was born to Indian parents in Kampala, Uganda. For Kondabolu, this moment is not just exciting, but emotional. I think so many of us have had those experiences in New York of being brown and in a city that has always been really diverse and feels like ours. But after 9/11, like you start to ...

Trump to host Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for White House lunch

US President Donald Trump will host Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir for lunch at the White House on Wednesday, weeks after India and Pakistan were locked in a four-day military conflict. Trump would be hosting the Pakistan Army Chief for lunch in the Cabinet Room of the White House at 1 pm, an official advisory released by Washington said. The US president had cut short his trip to Canada's Kananaskis for the G7 Leaders' Summit and returned to Washington Tuesday morning amid escalating tensions in the Middle East with the latest Israel-Iran conflict. Interestingly, Trump, during a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked him if he could stop in the US on his way back from Canada. But, the prime minister expressed his inability to do so "due to pre-scheduled engagements," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said. In the phone talks, Modi told Trump that India and Pakistan halted their military actions last month following direct talks between the two militaries without

Egis appoints regional leaders to boost growth in West, South Asia

Egis Announces New Regional Leadership Appointments to Drive Strategic Growth and Transformation

Two neighbours, two futures: India's rise amid Pakistan's mounting woes

India and Pakistan are charting opposite courses, with New Delhi rising in global influence while Islamabad battles economic turmoil and diplomatic isolation, according to World Bank

South Korea elects Lee Jae-myung as president after Yoon's impeachment

Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung wins South Korea's presidency in a high-turnout snap election after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and a brief imposition of martial law

David C Engerman looks at six S. Asian economists who shaped their nations

Of the Apostles still with us, there are few intersections between them and age-related constraints on all

Hope and disappointment: Why BIMSTEC is yet to realise its ambitions

Calls for an early conclusion to an FTA have gone nowhere in five years as members have not been able to reach a consensus over issues such as market access or a dispute settlement mechanism

Best of BS Opinion: As populists pound the podium, common sense retreats

Today's columns revolve around the backlash to globalisation that has made populism popular, even when it flies in the face of the people's best interests

Auction sets record for highest-value sale in South Asian art history

Tyeb Mehta's new record matches Amrita Sher-Gil's to become second most expensive work by an Indian artist

WHO emphasises on rights, equality, empowerment on Intl Women's Day

Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, emphasised that the South-East Asia's growth and development is "inextricably linked" to the health and wellness of women

South Asian-origin men guilty of one of UK's largest money laundering plots

Four British men, including two of South Asian heritage who ran jewellery businesses, were on Tuesday convicted in one of the UK's largest money laundering prosecutions worth an estimated GBP 266 million following a complex eight-year investigation. Arjun Babber, 32, and Haroon Rashid, 53, were found guilty alongside Gregory Frankel and Daniel Rawson, both 46, at Leeds Cloth Hall Nightingale Crown Court in northern England over large amounts of unexplained cash passing through their businesses. Babber ran Goldsteel Limited and is said to have started laundering cash for others through Fowler Oldfield Limited in 2015. According to the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Babber's family members ran RPS Jewellers Limited, a well-known and reputable gold and jewellery business based in west London and Hatton Garden. Meanwhile, Rashid was the sole director of Rashid Jewellers Ltd and was a frequent visitor to the premises of Fowler Oldfield and had access to its computers. This case is

Jaishankar hold talks with several counterparts at Indian Ocean conference

Jaishankar met foreign ministers from Mauritius, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka

Who Is Paul Kapur, Trump's pick for Assistant Secy of State for South Asia?

Indian-origin Paul Kapur is a widely respected scholar, having authored several influential books and academic papers on South Asian security

Boeing expects Indian, S Asian airlines to add 2,800 jets in next 20 yrs

The US planemaker's previous rolling 20-year market forecast, issued last year, was for 2,705 jets

One in five females in South Asia avoid daily tasks during periods: Study

Nearly 20 per cent of women and girls in south Asia abstain from regular daily activities during periods, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health journal. The study found that overall, 15 per cent of girls and women in low- and middle-income countries do not take part in daily activities while menstruating. In west and central Africa, prevalence of menstruation-related absences were the second highest at 18.5 per cent. Researchers, including those from the University of Melbourne, Australia, also found that girls aged 15-19 years are the most affected, with over 17 per cent not participating in regular daily activities while menstruating. The study analysed survey data collected during 2017-2023 from households across 44 countries. Over 6,73,300 women and girls aged 15-49 years were included in this analysis. "The overall pooled prevalence of menstrual-related absenteeism was 15 per cent, with prevalence being highest in south Asia and west and central Africa," t

'How I Write' explores publishing challenges, writers' creative struggles

Each interview in this collection is insightful, unpacking for the uninitiated how the publishing industry works and the types of desirable and undesirable challenges they face

Muizzu calls Manmohan Singh a 'great statesman,' recalls 2011 visit

Calling Dr Manmohan Singh as a great statesman, President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday reminisced about his November 2011 visit to the Maldives and said it marked a momentous milestone that further cemented the bonds of friendship with India. Singh, India's prime minister for 10 years from 2004 to 2014, died in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92. Muizzu signed the condolence book at the High Commission of India in the Maldives following Singh's demise when his message also conveyed sympathies to the former Indian prime minister's family and the government and people of India, on behalf of the Government and people of the Maldives, during this time of profound loss, a statement from the president's office said. The Indian High Commission here reciprocated with a post on X: We appreciate the thoughtful gesture of HEP @MMuizzu for being the first dignitary to sign the condolence book @HCIMaldives on sad demise of Hon'ble former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. His words of support are truly value

StanChart names ex-JPMorgan chief PD Singh as India, South Asia CEO nominee

If approved, P D Singh will succeed Zarin Daruwala, who is set to retire on April 1, 2025, after nearly a decade in the role

Afghan community in India demands more consular staff, assistance from MEA

A lone former diplomat, who has continued to stay in India, has somehow kept the Afghan Mission/Consulates running

The truth behind the rhetoric: India still holds influence, allies nearby

Of course, the elephant in the South Asia room continues to be China. But a strategy of containment that goes beyond banning apps is in place in the neighbourhood