New York City made Diwali a public school holiday in 2023, acknowledging the festival's importance to a significant section of its population. Deepavali was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2025. These reflect how a festival rooted in India's civilisational traditions has found an increasingly visible place in the global cultural calendar.
Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds documented more than 100 Bangladeshis recruited into the Russian military and reported at least 34 deaths in their March 2026 investigation. Separately, Prothom Alo reported on October 21 that at least 54 Bangladeshis had reportedly died after travelling to Russia for work and becoming involved in the war over the preceding three years.
Regional cooperation could begin with practical comparisons. Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and other labour-sending countries can exchange working solutions without pretending their systems or bilateral agreements are identical.
South Asia, for all its faults and constraints, is the fastest-growing economic region in the world this year. It is also home to the Commonwealth’s largest three countries in terms of population, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, representing just under two billion citizens, the majority under 30-years old.
There was a consensus on the importance of allowing people to meet across borders, revive dialogue and sporting ties -- including cricket -- as well as SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and cooperate on all matters, especially the environment.
The celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, has gained much national and international prominence in Trinidad, where the annual Divali Nagar at Chaguanas sees over 100,000 people thronging the nine-nights carnival spread over a 27-acre site from all over the Caribbean, the United States and beyond.
As of now there is no indication that as president Harris would choose to ruffle feathers in New Delhi over Kashmir. One main reason is that she would be too preoccupied with a fractious polity at home in the initial stage to jump into issues like Kashmir which have no relevance domestically.
“I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos”, he said.
He also gave his address as “CGO Complext” in New Delhi, where according to the document RAW is headquartered
When only the Indian Americans in the AIA survey were asked who they trust to handle India-US relations, 59 per cent picked Harris and only 22 per cent Trump.
The South Asian community in Britain has enriched palates with diverse cuisines and contributed to various economic sectors, leaving an indelible mark on the nation's fabric. South Asian Heritage Month acknowledges their struggles and triumphs, celebrating individuals whose accomplishments serve as an inspiration to all, demonstrating the power of hard work, determination, and resilience.
At a campaign rally later, Trump offered his one-time "nasty" rival Vivek Ramaswamy a position in his administration if elected, putting “him in charge of one of these big monsters” in government.
There are 108,000 hotels and motels in the US, and, according to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Indian American entrepreneurs own about 60 per cent of the properties that line American highways. A large number of Motel 6 facilities are already run by Indian Americans.
Securing diverse sources of growth that provide quality employment opportunities while preserving Bhutan’s commitment to environmental sustainability remains a key medium‑term challenge.
The East-West Center managed to bring journalists from Pakistan and India together, even if this had to happen in a faraway place. Given the challenges and the demonstrated value of cross-border reporting, it is imperative to continue and expand this programme.
Ironically, while Siamwalla was quoted as saying the Mandir float was a “symbol of bias against Muslims”, the Muslims for Peace included members of the Ahmadiyya community of Muslims who are themselves victims of Islamic persecution.
Rana’s extradition would be a partial fulfillment of India’s attempts to get the US-based L-e-T accomplices to face trial in India as the US has refused to extradite Rana’s Pakistani-American accomplice Daood Gilani who uses the name David Headley.
“We welcome all religions and all ethnic organisations to participate in the parade”, he said. “So you will see not only a Ram Mandir float, but also a Muslim float and a Sikh float and a Christian float”.
He said that according to the minorities organisation, Hindu, Buddhis, Christian Unity Council (Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parisha), the anti-Hindu violence has spread to 45 out of the nation’s 64 districts this week.
