Saif Hasnat

It Begins With a Joke. Comics in the World’s Largest Democracy Know Where It Ends.

It Begins With a Joke. Comics in the World’s Largest Democracy Know Where It Ends.

The Indian comedian Kunal Kamra was forced offstage after a political joke led to a mob attack. Unlike Jimmy Kimmel, he is unlikely to return anytime soon.

Being a High-Profile Comedian Right Now Is No Joke

Being a High-Profile Comedian Right Now Is No Joke

Taliban Bans Books by Women in Afghanistan’s Universities

Taliban Bans Books by Women in Afghanistan’s Universities

More than 600 books, many of them written by women, are being purged, based on a contention that they conflict with Sharia principles.

When I Go, I’m Going Green

When I Go, I’m Going Green

More Americans are choosing burials in which everything is biodegradable.

OpenAI in Deal Talks That Would Value the Company at $500 Billion

OpenAI in Deal Talks That Would Value the Company at $500 Billion

A Year After Revolution, Hope Turns to Frustration in Bangladesh

“It pains me,” said Romjan Ali, Abu Sayed’s brother. “We thought the country would become morally better, inequality would end..., the killers would be punished, and that punishment would make criminals afraid. But nothing like that has happened.”

at @nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/w...

Cricket must get on the front foot in helping women and girls to feel accepted | Isa Guha The charity Take Her Lead is striving to get more South Asian females taking up the sport, and cut the number of them dropping out due to feelings of alienation

Cricket must get on the front foot in helping women and girls to feel accepted | Isa Guha

AOL is finally shutting down dial-up RIP noisy little man.

AOL is finally shutting down dial-up

In India, Immigration Raids Detain Thousands and Create a Climate of Fear

In India, Immigration Raids Detain Thousands and Create a Climate of Fear

Officials have picked up people across the country, most of them Muslim, citing a national security risk. Rights groups say the raids are targeting detainees’ religion and language.

Modi’s ‘True Friend’ Trump Deals India Another Blow With Tariff Threats

Modi’s ‘True Friend’ Trump Deals India Another Blow With Tariff Threats

India’s prime minister has made a big effort to build closer ties using his rapport with the U.S. president, but critics say he is getting little in return.

India-US trade deal: Donald Trump announces 25% tariff on India, plus penalty for buying energy and arms from Russia - Times of India Donald Trump announced India will face a 25% tariff starting August 1st, along with penalties for energy and arms purchases from Russia. Trump cited high Indian tariffs and trade barriers, as well as ...

India-US Trade Deal: Donald Trump Announces 25% Tariff On India, Plus Penalty For Buying Energy And Arms From Russia

Bangladeshi Community Mourns Officer Killed in Midtown Manhattan Shooting Didarul Islam had a hard-won house, a job that brought respect and the esteem of his neighbors. “He said serve the community and you’ll do fine,” a friend said.

On a sleepy Bronx street, relatives, friends and leaders of the Muslim community that enveloped Didarul Islam came to pay their respects just hours after he was gunned down while providing security at a Park Avenue skyscraper on Monday.

No Meals, Fainting Nurses, Dwindling Baby Formula: Starvation Haunts Gaza Hospitals

No Meals, Fainting Nurses, Dwindling Baby Formula: Starvation Haunts Gaza Hospitals

After Israeli restrictions on aid, hunger has risen across Gaza. Doctors and nurses, struggling to find food themselves, lack the resources to stem the surge.

Revealed: debate opponent of Mehdi Hasan organized violent far-right protests Richard Black, who appeared on controversial Jubilee video, organized Proud Boys-linked protests in 2017 A debating opponent of the leftwing media figure Mehdi Hasan in a controversial viral YouTube video was previously the organizer of two violent far-right protests in Berkeley, California in 2017, the Guardian can reveal. The video debate session with Hasan, published to the 10 million-subscriber Jubilee channel, has already attracted scrutiny due to platforming a self-described “fascist”, Connor Estelle, who reportedly lost his job after he was identified by online researchers. Continue reading...

Revealed: debate opponent of Mehdi Hasan organized violent far-right protests

It looks like Microsoft is getting ready for GPT-5. I reported yesterday that OpenAI is preparing to release GPT-5 in early August, and now references to a new GPT-5-powered “Smart Mode” have reportedly appeared in Copilot. Alexey Shavanov discovered c...

It looks like Microsoft is getting ready for GPT-5. After I reported yesterday that OpenAI is preparing to release GPT-5 in early August, someone has discovered GPT-5 references in Copilot with a new "Smart Mode." Details 👇 www.theverge.com/news/713879/...

Children Burned by Fighter Crash in Bangladesh Die Days Later

Children Burned by Fighter Crash in Bangladesh Die Days Later

Indian police arrest man accused of running fake embassy Suspect allegedly claimed to be adviser or ambassador for entities including ‘Seborga’ or ‘Westarctica’

Indian police arrest man accused of running fake embassy

Suspect allegedly claimed to be adviser or ambassador for entities including ‘Seborga’ or ‘Westarctica’

Children Were on Their School Lunch Break. Then a Plane Hit.

Direct from the scene of the plane crash in Bangladesh.

Our coverage at @nytimes.com

Death toll stands at 31 now, with 165 wounded.

Bangladesh Military Plane Crashes Into School, Killing at Least 19

A training aircraft of Bangladesh's air force crashed in Dhaka, killing at least 19 killed so far.

our report at @nytimes.com

‘Coldplaygate’ Is a Stark Reminder That Cameras Are Everywhere

‘Coldplaygate’ Is a Stark Reminder That Cameras Are Everywhere

Yeah 😕

Bangladeshis linked to Hasina regime appear to have made UK property transactions in past year Call for asset freezes after figures under investigation in Dhaka employed services of UK law firms and consultants

Bangladeshis linked to Hasina regime appear to have made UK property transactions in past year

Call for asset freezes after figures under investigation in Dhaka employed services of UK law firms and consultants.

India cancelled the cricket team's tour to Bangladesh, which was scheduled long before. They didn't send a women's football team. They refused to join the Asian Cricket Council's meeting in Dhaka.

After Hasina's ouster, India is a different kind of friend of Bangladesh.

Deadly Protests Grip Bangladesh

Reflecting on the 2024 protest in Bangladesh that successfully ousted Sheikh Hasina's increasingly autocratic regime.

The death toll in Gopalganj, Hasina's birthplace, reached 5 after a recent clash of AL supporters with police and army. The clash broke out after a rally of NCP, a newly formed political party, led by students who ousted Hasina in last year's protest.

#Bangladesh

Where Congress’s Cuts Threaten Access to PBS and NPR The loss of federal funding threatens scores of public TV and radio stations across the United States.

President Trump’s proposal to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasters threatens scores of radio and TV stations across the United States that air PBS and NPR programs.

Senate Vote to Defund NPR and PBS Betrays Local Communities Across the U.S. - PEN America "The Senate’s vote to strip funding from NPR, PBS, and local TV and radio stations across the country is a stark betrayal of millions of Americans who depend on public media, whether for information d...

PEN America: "The Senate’s vote to strip funding from NPR, PBS, and local TV and radio stations across the country is a stark betrayal of millions of Americans who depend on public media, whether for information during emergencies or for news." Full statement: pen.org/press-releas...

A Father Braces for Life After a Plane Crash Took His ‘Everything’

A Father Braces for Life After a Plane Crash Took His ‘Everything’

His son and daughter-in-law brought love to his home and represented the family’s hope for a better life.

A must-read. About the recent plane crash in India. By Mujib Mashal, Pragati K.B., and Photos by Atul Loke.

Indian Police Discover a Russian Woman Living in a Cave With Two Daughters

Indian Police Discover a Russian Woman Living in a Cave With Two Daughters

Officials said she had spent years in the country seeking spirituality and living among nature. But she faces deportation after overstaying her visa.

A.I. Might Take Your Job. Here Are 22 New Ones It Could Give You.

A.I. Might Take Your Job. Here Are 22 New Ones It Could Give You.

A must read.