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Susan Coyle Chief of Army pick makes Australian Army history
Susan Coyle Chief of Army appointment will take effect from July 2026, with Lt Gen Coyle set to replace Lt Gen Simon Stuart as Australia also names Vice Adm Mark Hammond as incoming Chief of the Defence Force.
Reports: Bangladesh foreign minister India visit April 7–8
Bangladesh foreign minister India visit plans for April 7–8 are being framed as a Dhaka–Delhi reset, with water-sharing and visa services back on the agenda, according to regional reporting.
KP Sharma Oli arrest: Nepal court seeks grounds
KP Sharma Oli arrest case moved to Nepal’s Supreme Court, which ordered the government to explain the legal basis for detaining the ex-prime minister and Ramesh Lekhak over the September 2025 protest deaths.
Pakistan talks host Saudi, Turkey, Egypt as UN names envoy
Pakistan talks in Islamabad bring Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt together as Pakistan relays a U.S. proposal to Tehran. Separately, the UN has appointed veteran diplomat Jean Arnault as personal envoy for the Middle East conflict.
No Kings protests spread abroad amid Trump Iran war backlash
No Kings protests drew crowds in thousands of U.S. cities on March 28 and sparked solidarity events abroad, with immigration enforcement and the Iran war driving messaging—and raising fresh security and disruption risks for U.S. sites overseas.
London anti-far-right protest targets Reform UK
London anti-far-right protest drew tens of thousands through central London on March 28, with organisers targeting Reform UK as it tops polls and mainstream parties brace for May elections.
Tom Homan rejects Democratic ICE reform demands
Tom Homan rejects Democratic ICE reform demands as DHS funding talks stall, with Democrats citing backlash over ICE tactics and Republicans calling the push political theater amid profiling and enforcement disputes.
Macron urges calm after Lyon activist death fuels blame cycle
Macron urges calm after a 23-year-old activist died from injuries after a beating outside a talk by far-left MEP Rima Hassan in Lyon, as rival camps trade blame and France’s 2027 political stakes sharpen.
Trump says Board of Peace pledges $5B for Gaza
Board of Peace pledges topped $5B for Gaza, Trump said, with member countries also discussing personnel support for a UN-authorized stabilization and policing framework as violence continues despite a ceasefire structure.
Bangladesh swearing-in: Dhaka invites 13 countries
Bangladesh swearing-in plans for a BNP-led government include invitations to 13 countries and an Indian delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The guest list signals Dhaka’s early regional balancing after Reuters reported BNP won a two-thirds majority in a landmark post-Hasina vote.
Bangladesh Bank MFS restrictions ahead of Feb 12 vote
Bangladesh Bank MFS restrictions will cap election-week P2P transfers at Tk 1,000 per transaction for 96 hours, with tighter daily limits and some bank-to-bank rails paused. The controls aim to curb misuse ahead of Feb 12 polls, but they may disrupt retail liquidity and operations.
Bangladesh election bank closure: banks shut Feb 11–12
Bangladesh election bank closure plans are set for Feb 11–12, with Bangladesh Bank directing all scheduled banks to close ahead of the Feb 12 national election and referendum. The two-day shutdown can strain payments, cash, and settlement cycles as political risk stays elevated.
Amar Ekushey Book Fair date row: Feb 20 stays
Amar Ekushey Book Fair organizers say the fair will start Feb 20 as scheduled, despite publisher calls to shift dates around Ramadan. The dispute affects print runs, cashflow, and sponsorship planning across Bangladesh’s publishing industry.
Crypto market structure bill hits White House red lines
Crypto market structure talks at the White House ended without a deal on Feb. 3, with stablecoin rewards as the key snag. The next day, a Trump digital-assets adviser drew “red lines” against ethics provisions aimed at Trump or family, narrowing—not rejecting—the bill’s path.
Deepak Chopra Epstein emails revive ethics questions
Deepak Chopra Epstein emails in newly released records show post-2008 contact and celebrity chatter, including a 2016 Marla Maples query. Chopra apologized for the tone and denied any criminal or exploitative acts as fresh Epstein-file releases fuel scrutiny.
Steven Pinker Epstein ties face renewed scrutiny
Steven Pinker Epstein ties are back in focus after reporting on a 2002 flight log entry, limited legal-case assistance, and references in released emails. Pinker has said he regrets the contact and that it was not tied to Epstein’s crimes.
Iran easy access to US bases claim raises regional risk
Iran easy access to US bases rhetoric resurfaced after an army spokesperson warned U.S. positions are vulnerable. The messaging lands amid U.S.–Iran tensions, planned Oman talks, and recent drone incidents, keeping energy and shipping tail risks in focus.
Trump–Xi call puts soybeans and Taiwan in focus
The Trump–Xi call on Feb. 4 mixed Taiwan warnings with trade signals, including talk of bigger U.S. soybean purchases and a possible April Beijing visit. Soybean futures rose on the headline, while investors re-priced tariff risk and Asia supply-chain exposure.
Trump Europe tariffs jolt markets over Greenland ultimatum
Trump Europe tariffs threats tied to Greenland rattled markets after Trump said 10% duties start Feb 1 on eight European countries, rising to 25% by June 1 without a deal. The EU is preparing retaliation, and the IMF warns of a “spiral of escalation.”
Seat-sharing deal: Jamaat 179, NCP 30 ahead of vote
A seat-sharing deal in Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance allocates 253 constituencies ahead of the Feb 12, 2026 election. Jamaat will run in 179 seats and the National Citizen Party (NCP) in 30, while talks with IAB remain unsettled.