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More than 75 percent of married Bangladeshi women experience violence from partners at least once in their lifetime, a national survey published Monday said.

Over 75% Women In Bangladesh Experience Violence After Marriage: Survey

A lawyer defending Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari,  the Hindu priest arrested and accused of sedition in Bangladesh, has been attacked, the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) has said. A court in Bangladesh is expected to hear the case on December 3. 

In a post on X, Radharaman Das, the spokesperson for ISKCON, said, "Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life".

Many lawyers in Bangladesh, however, have denied any such event.

Last month too, there were claims on social media and a few news outlets that a lawyer defending Chinmoy Krishna Das was killed. But investigations revealed that the murdered lawyer, Saiful Islam, was an assistant public prosecutor and he was not defending Chinmoy Das.

The post from Radharaman Das read: 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. 
 
Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveBangladeshiHindus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveBangladeshiHindus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeChinmoyKrishnaPrabhu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeChinmoyKrishnaPrabhu</a> <a href="https://t.co/uudpC10bpN">pic.twitter.com/uudpC10bpN</a>
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) <a href="https://twitter.com/RadharamnDas/status/1863593503609303469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, was arrested in Dhaka last month after protests by the Hindu community in Rangpur, demanding stronger legal protections for minority groups. He has been accused of sedition and was denied bail by a Dhaka court on Tuesday.

Bangladesh has seen widespread political violence and protests over minority rights since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Amid attacks on minority Hindus in the neighbouring coutry, Radharaman Das had earlier posted on X that two disciples of Chinmoy Krishna Das have gone missing in Chattogram after a second Hindu monk, Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested.

India has condemned the arrest and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities. 

The arrest has also been strongly criticised by Indian religious leaders and members of the civil society.

Protest rallies have been held in West Bengal and several other staes that share border with Bangladesh.

In Tripura, the criticism has taken the form of boycott. Hotels and restaurants have decided not to accept bookings from tourists from Bangladesh, the top association of the travel sector has said.

Earlier today, more than 50 protesters allegedly entered the premises of the Bangladeshi mission in Tripura capital Agartala, leading to panic among the officials and staff at the complex. India has described the incident as "deeply regrettable".

Advocate Defending Hindu Priest In Bangladesh Attacked, Says ISKCON

Syria Civil War: सीरिया में मचे घमासान और तख्तापलट के बीच विद्रोही दमिश्क में इटली के राजदूत के आवास में जा घुसे. इटली के विदेश मंत्री एंटोनियो तजानी ने कहा कि एक आर्म्ड ग्रुप दमिश्क में इतालवी राजदूत के निवास के बगीचे में घुस गया और तीन कारें चुरा लीं. हालांकि विद्रोहियों ने राजदूत और कैराबिनियरी (दूतावास पुलिस) को कोई नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाया है. तजानी ने सीरिया में सत्ता के शांतिपूर्ण हस्तांतरण की अपील की है.&nbsp;
इटली के विदेश मंत्री कार्यालय ने सीरिया में रह रहे अपने 300 नागरिकों की सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने की प्रतिबद्धता जताई है. तजानी ने कहा कि उनकी सरकार देश छोड़ने में इच्छुक नागरिकों की मदद के लिए तैयार है. सीरिया की स्थिति पर हुए एक बैठक के बाद तजानी ने कहा, "आज सुबह, एक विद्रोही समूह इटली के राजदूत के निवास के बगीचे में घुस गया. उन्होंने तीन ऑटोमोबाइल छीन लिए."&nbsp;
'सीरिया में पूरी तरह से नियंत्रण में है स्थिति'
उन्होंने बताया कि विद्रोही समूह असद के सैनिकों की तलाश कर रहा था, लेकिन उसने राजदूत या वहां तैनात इतालवी पुलिस को कोई नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाया. तजानी ने पुष्टि की कि राजदूत "सुरक्षित" हैं और किसी अलग जगह से रिमोट फॉर्म में काम कर रहे हैं. उन्होंने कहा, " वहां स्थिति पूरी तरह से नियंत्रण में है. सीरिया में बहुत खुशी है, लेकिन हवा में गोलीबारी करके खुशी इजहार करना उलझन को बढ़ाता है." दिन की शुरुआत में इस्लामवादी नेतृत्व वाले विद्रोहियों ने घोषणा किया कि वे राष्ट्रपति बशर अल-असद की सेनाओं के खिलाफ़ हमला बोलकर दमिश्क में प्रवेश कर चुके हैं.
इराकी दूतावास को कराया गया खाली दमिश्क में घमासान के बाद इराकी दूतावास को खाली करा दिया गया है. &nbsp;इराक ने सीरिया के सीमा पर हाई अलर्ट का एडवाइजरी जारी किया है और वहां सैनिकों की तैनाता बढ़ा दी गई है. भारी संख्या में सीरियाई सेना के जवानों ने इराक में शरण ले रखी है.
भारत ने भी एडवाइजरी की जारी शनिवार को विदेश मंत्रालय की ओर से जारी एडवाइजरी में MEA ने भारतीय नागरिकों को अगली सूचना तक सीरिया की यात्रा नकरने की सलाह दी थी. एडवाइजरी में कहा गया है कि सीरिया में रहने वाले भारतीय दमिश्क स्थित भारतीय दूतावास के आपातकालीन हेल्पलाइन नंबर +963 993385973 और ईमेल आईडी hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in पर संपर्क में रहें.&nbsp;
<div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail ">
यह भी पढेंः&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abplive.com/news/world/britain-democrats-mp-raised-concerns-on-religious-freedom-and-human-rights-abuses-of-minority-religious-minorities-in-pakistan-2834527">बांग्लादेश में हिंदुओं पर जारी हिंसा के बीच ब्रिटेन की संसद में गूंजा पाकिस्तान का ये मुद्दा, सांसद ने लगाया गंभीर आरोप</a>
</div>

सीरिया में इटली के राजदूत के घर में घुसे विद्रोही, चुरा ले गए तीन महंगी कारें! जानें और क्या हुआ

US President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden after repeatedly pledging not to. Below is a look at the circumstances leading up to the pardon and its legal consequences.
WHAT DID THE PARDON COVER?
Hunter Biden was pardoned for his conviction by a jury in Delaware and a guilty plea in California. Hunter Biden was also pardoned for federal crimes "he committed or may have committed" between Jan. 1, 2014 through the end of this year.
WHAT CRIMES WAS HUNTER BIDEN CONVICTED OF?
A Delaware jury in June found the president's son guilty of lying about his addiction to illegal drugs on a disclosure form that is required to purchase a firearm. The trial included hours of embarrassing testimony about Hunter Biden's addiction to crack and reckless behavior. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.
Biden separately pleaded guilty to criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16.
WHAT SENTENCE WAS BIDEN FACING?
He was facing decades in prison, although sentencing guidelines suggested he was likely to receive a much less severe punishment.
For the gun charges, sentencing guidelines are 15 to 21 months, although legal experts said defendants in similar situations receive shorter sentences and are less likely to be incarcerated if they abide by the terms of their pretrial release. Hunter Biden's attorney had told the judge that he was complying with terms of his bail, which included drug testing to show he was not using illegal drugs.
A juror told CNN after the trial they did not think Hunter Biden belonged in prison.
WASN'T THERE A PLEA DEAL?
Yes. In June last year Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and an agreement that would have spared him a conviction on a gun-related charge. The agreement prompted accusations by Republicans that Hunter Biden is receiving favorable treatment as the president's son. A federal judge questioned the breadth of that agreement and declined to accept it, paving the way for Hunter Biden's trial on gun charges.
COULD HUNTER BIDEN BE CALLED TO TESTIFY IN ANOTHER CASE?
If the US House of Representatives or the Justice Department decides to probe the Biden family business dealings, as some Republicans have promised to do, Hunter Biden could potentially be called to testify. Before he was pardoned, he could have declined to do so, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The pardon could limit his ability to invoke that right, because he no longer faces criminal jeopardy for any federal crimes committed during the period covered. Presidential pardons do not protect people from prosecution for state crimes.
ARE PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS UNUSUAL?
No. Presidents beginning with George Washington, the first US president, have granted pardons. Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon, who had resigned in disgrace, Bill Clinton pardoned his brother-in-law and Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

US President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden after repeatedly pledging not to.

Explained: What Is The Legal Effect Of Joe Biden's Pardon Of His Son?

Reversing his past promises to not use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family, US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, sparing him a possible prison sentence for two criminal cases related to federal felony gun and tax convictions.&nbsp;
Joe Biden had time and again said that he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. Mr Biden's decision to use his position to help his son marks a significant shift in the Democratic President's political position, who promised Americans to restore norms and respect for the rule of law, after Donald Trump's first term in office.&nbsp;
<h2>Biden's Statement</h2>
"Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," the US President said in a statement.
Mr Biden,&nbsp;who is in the final weeks of his presidency before Trump takes office on January 20,&nbsp;said that his opponents had sought to break his son with selective prosecution.
"No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son -- and that is wrong," said the President.
He stressed that people were rarely brought to trial for felony charges for how they filled out a gun form, and said others who were late in paying taxes because of addiction but paid them back with interest and penalties, as his son had, typically received non-criminal resolutions to their cases.
"It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election," Mr Biden said.&nbsp;
"In trying to break Hunter, they've tried to break me - and there's no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough," he added.
Hunter Biden, a recovering drug addict who became a target of Republicans, has been granted "a full and unconditional" pardon for any offences in a window from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024.
Mr Biden said he had made his decision to pardon over the weekend.
The president, his wife, Jill Biden, and their family including Hunter, spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and returned to Washington on Saturday night.
"Here's the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice - and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further," he said.
"I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," the President added.
<h2>What Is Presidential Pardon?</h2>
The US Constitution gives power to presidents to grant clemency, which can include commutations and pardons. Granting commutation reduces penalties against the convicted felon without erasing the conviction. Meanwhile, a pardon forgives a person's federal crimes entirely.
<h2>Republicans Criticized Joe Biden's Move</h2>
"Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!" President-elect Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site, referring to those convicted for storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after Trump claimed falsely that he had won the 2020 election.
"Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family's corrupt influence-peddling activities," said Representative James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
<h2>Cases Against Hunter Biden</h2>
The younger Biden faced sentencing for the false statements and gun convictions this month. He was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun -- a felony.
In September he also pleaded guilty to federal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He was scheduled for sentencing in that case on December 16.
Earlier, Hunter Biden has paid the back taxes, as well as penalties levied by authorities. In August 2023, his lawyers said prosecutors had reneged on a plea deal that would have resolved the tax and firearms charges -- but that agreement fell apart at the last minute.&nbsp;
For tax evasion, Hunter Biden was facing up to 17 years in prison. For the separate gun charge, he was facing 25 years in prison.
"I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction - mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport," Hunter Biden said in a statement on Sunday.
"In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages ... I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering," He said further, adding he had remained sober for more than five years.
His case has long been a thorn in the Biden family's side, particularly during this election year when Republicans have charged that Hunter was being treated too leniently.
However, President Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race in favour of Vice President Kamala Harris had taken much of the zeal out of the Republican drive to make an example out of his son. Still, prosecutors appeared unwilling to cut him any slack, rejecting a so-called "Alford plea," whereby Hunter Biden would admit guilt because of the high probability of conviction, but would maintain his innocence.
<h2>Power And Pardon</h2>
The move brings fresh scrutiny over the independence of the US judicial system -- especially at a time when incoming president Donald Trump has moved to appoint loyalists to the FBI and Justice Department himself.
But, this is not the first time when a US President used pardon to help family members and other political allies.
Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother for old cocaine charges and Mr Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law for tax evasion, though in both cases those men had already served their prison terms.&nbsp;
Mr Trump has also vowed to pardon supporters who stormed the US Capitol in a deadly riot on January 6, 2021, in a bid to reverse his 2020 election loss.&nbsp;

Reversing his past promises to not use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family, US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an offic

All About Hunter Biden's Case History, Reactions To Presidential Pardon

The visit of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, to India in March 2025 marked his first trip to the country as head of government. Accompanied by one of the largest delegations ever to travel with a New Zealand prime minister (including ministers, senior business leaders, a group of prominent Kiwi Indians, and several parliamentarians), the six-day trip from March 16 to 21 is a significant step in advancing bilateral ties, particularly in maritime security and regional stability within the Indo-Pacific. 

Inaugurating the 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, Luxon made a powerful pitch for a secure, stable, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, emphasising New Zealand's role in upholding a rules-based order. He highlighted the deepening India- New Zealand partnership, calling for stronger collaboration in trade, climate action, and maritime security to navigate the region's evolving challenges. The Raisina Dialogue is India's premier geopolitical and geoeconomic conference, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss pressing international challenges, with a strong focus on the Indo-Pacific, security, and multilateral cooperation.

<h2>The Long-Delayed FTA</h2>

The strengthening of maritime cooperation and the revival of discussion on a free trade agreement (FTA) are two significant outcomes of the visit. Given its economic dependence on China, New Zealand has been cautious in aligning with regional security mechanisms that could antagonise Beijing. However, its growing engagement with India as an ‘important power', as PM Luxon underscored, suggests a desire to balance its economic and security interests in a changing regional order.

Initiated in 2009 and having faced repeated delays, the FTA is expected to enhance trade in sectors such as agriculture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and tourism, with projections suggesting a tenfold increase in trade over the next decade. This economic collaboration also aligns with India's broader strategy to integrate into global supply chains and improve market access in the Indo-Pacific region.

As both nations recognise the centrality of a free, open, and rules-based maritime order, the boosting of maritime engagement aligns with India's broader Indo-Pacific outreach, as well as New Zealand's increasing involvement in the region's security architecture. As the Indo-Pacific increasingly moves toward a multipolar order, where regional middle powers shape security dynamics, New Zealand's engagement with India strengthens a security architecture that is not solely dependent on US-China competition. For India, the Indo-Pacific extends from the eastern coast of Africa to the western Pacific. New Zealand, as a Pacific nation, has increasingly recognised the interconnectedness of Indian Ocean security with developments in the Pacific, reinforcing its commitment to regional stability. Their evolving partnership fits into broader regional frameworks that prioritise maritime security cooperation.

India's Act East Policy and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision has positioned it as a net security provider while also being acknowledged as a reliable and capable partner in the Indian Ocean region. Both countries have agreed to explore avenues for increasing naval interactions, possibly through New Zealand's participation in India's Milan naval exercises, which bring together regional navies to enhance interoperability and also discussed avenues for future collaboration in ship maintenance and technology.

<h2>The Pacific Reset Policy</h2>

Wellington's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) aligns with its Pacific Reset policy, which focuses on strengthening engagement with Pacific Island countries. Through IPOI, India and New Zealand can collaborate on maritime ecology, resource management, and security-related capacity building in the Indo-Pacific. For instance, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification disproportionately impact smaller Indo-Pacific island nations. New Zealand, as a Pacific nation with strong ties to these islands, and India, through its IPOI, can work together on climate adaptation strategies, maritime disaster response, and coastal infrastructure resilience. Similarly, the Indo-Pacific faces increasing challenges from IUU fishing, particularly by foreign fleets operating in contested waters. New Zealand, with its expertise in sustainable fisheries management, could contribute to joint efforts with India to curb this issue through enhanced patrol coordination and capacity-building initiatives for smaller island nations.

While New Zealand is not a part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), its growing security partnership with India allows for greater alignment with Quad-led initiatives on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), cybersecurity, and maritime infrastructure projects. New Zealand's collaboration with Quad members on maritime security strengthens collective deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Both New Delhi and Wellington actively engage with ASEAN and PICs, which face mounting geopolitical pressures due to major power competition. Enhancing security partnerships through the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will allow India and New Zealand to play a proactive role in regional security governance.

Prime Minister Luxon's visit has injected fresh momentum into India-New Zealand ties, paving the way for deeper collaboration in trade, security, and regional stability. As both nations navigate the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape, their strengthened partnership holds the promise of being a key force in shaping a more resilient and inclusive future for the region.

(Harsh V. Pant is Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy, at Observer Research Foundation, and Professor of International Relations at King's College London. Pratnashree Basu is an Associate Fellow - Indo-Pacific, at Observer Research Foundation.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Whats Hot

Over 75% Women In Bangladesh Experience Violence After Marriage: Survey

Advocate Defending Hindu Priest In Bangladesh Attacked, Says ISKCON

सीरिया में इटली के राजदूत के घर में घुसे विद्रोही, चुरा ले गए तीन महंगी कारें! जानें और क्या हुआ

Whats Hot

Over 75% Women In Bangladesh Experience Violence After Marriage: Survey

Advocate Defending Hindu Priest In Bangladesh Attacked, Says ISKCON

सीरिया में इटली के राजदूत के घर में घुसे विद्रोही, चुरा ले गए तीन महंगी कारें! जानें और क्या हुआ

Over 75% Women In Bangladesh Experience Violence After Marriage: Survey

Advocate Defending Hindu Priest In Bangladesh Attacked, Says ISKCON

सीरिया में इटली के राजदूत के घर में घुसे विद्रोही, चुरा ले गए तीन महंगी कारें! जानें और क्या हुआ

Explained: What Is The Legal Effect Of Joe Biden's Pardon Of His Son?

All About Hunter Biden's Case History, Reactions To Presidential Pardon

Over 75% Women In Bangladesh Experience Violence After Marriage: Survey

Advocate Defending Hindu Priest In Bangladesh Attacked, Says ISKCON

सीरिया में इटली के राजदूत के घर में घुसे विद्रोही, चुरा ले गए तीन महंगी कारें! जानें और क्या हुआ

Explained: What Is The Legal Effect Of Joe Biden's Pardon Of His Son?

All About Hunter Biden's Case History, Reactions To Presidential Pardon

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