Indonesia and the United States have agreed on a new tariff deal after concluding negotiations on its finer details, with the agreement expected to be signed by the two countries’ presidents next month.The deal follows Washington’s decision in July to lower tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32% to 19%. While the reduced rate was announced earlier, talks over the scope and structure of the agreement continued.Indonesia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said the outstanding issues were resolved during his meeting with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington.“All of the substantive issues that have been regulated in the ART (Agreement on Reciprocal Tariff) document have been agreed by both parties, both the main and technical issues,” Airlangga said during a briefing from the US capital on Monday.According to Airlangga, negotiations focused on ensuring a “balance” in market access between the two economies. As part of the outcome, the United States has agreed to exempt several key Indonesian exports, including palm oil, coffee and tea, from the revised tariff framework.He further added that Washington was keen to expand its access to Indonesia’s critical minerals, noting that “the US is very much hopes to gain access to (Indonesia’s) critical minerals”.The framework agreement announced in July includes Indonesia’s commitment to significantly increase imports from the United States, with plans to spend billions of dollars across sectors such as energy, agriculture and aircraft purchases.Officials from both sides are scheduled to meet again next month to finalise legal aspects of the agreement. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donald Trump are expected to sign the deal before February.Trade data from the US Trade Representative’s office shows that Washington recorded a goods trade deficit of $17.9 billion with Indonesia in 2024, marking a 5.4% rise compared with the previous year.

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Ties between India and Bangladesh have hit another roadblock after the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka sparked anti-India protests. Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s July uprising in Bangladesh, was killed amid rising political tensions, triggering widespread unrest. Bangladesh government suspended visa services in India following protests outside Bangladeshi missions.Protests also erupted in Bangladesh following the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu man lynched in Mymensingh. Hindu religious organisations and minority rights groups held a demonstration outside the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday. Protesters described the incident as part of a wider pattern of religious extremism, attacks on minorities and official inaction.Speakers said Dipu Das, a factory worker recently promoted for his dedication, was falsely accused of religious defamation before being brutally killed. India, meanwhile, has raised concerns over the safety of minorities, the security of diplomatic missions, and what it describes as misleading narratives emerging from Bangladesh.

10 key points on the recent Bangladesh unrest:

US dials Yunus to discuss ‘recent events’Muhammad Yunus held a half-hour phone conversation with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor. Yunus used the call to reiterate his pledge to hold general elections on February 12, saying the country was “eagerly waiting” to reclaim voting rights allegedly denied under the previous regime. Sharing the details of the conversation, US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said during the call Gor discussed the “recent events” in Bangladesh.“Today, Special Envoy for SCA Ambassador Sergio Gor held a productive call with Chief Advisor Yunus @ChiefAdviserGoB to discuss recent events in Bangladesh and shared US interests to advance prosperity through trade,” US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs wrote on X.Dhaka suspends visa servicesAmid mounting protests, Bangladesh suspended visa services at its High Commission in New Delhi and missions in Tripura and Siliguri, citing unavoidable circumstances. The decision followed demonstrations outside Bangladeshi diplomatic premises, while India had earlier suspended visa services at its Chittagong mission after protesters attempted to storm the compound.

Election promise amid warnings of sabotageYunus insisted the interim government remained committed to delivering a “free, fair and peaceful” election within roughly 50 days, describing the vote as an opportunity to restore democratic legitimacy. At the same time, he warned that supporters of the ousted Awami League regime were allegedly spending millions to disrupt the electoral process, with a fugitive leader inciting violence from abroad.Inqilab Moncho threatens mass movementInqilab Moncho, the platform Hadi led, issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding justice, warning that failure to act would trigger a mass movement to oust the interim government. The group demanded a speedy trial tribunal, involvement of international agencies like the FBI and Scotland Yard, and accountability from home and law advisers. Its leaders accused intelligence agencies of failing to identify perpetrators and alleged Awami collaborators were embedded within security structures.Another youth leader shotConcerns deepened after another leader of the student-led uprising, Motaleb Shikder, was shot in the head in Khulna days after Hadi’s death. Police launched a manhunt but said they remained unclear about the motive or perpetrators. The attack reinforced fears that a coordinated campaign of violence was targeting figures linked to last year’s protests. With multiple leaders injured or killed, questions grew over whether the interim government could guarantee safety during the election period. India raises minority and security concernsEarlier on Wednesday, India had summoned Bangladesh’s envoy and expressed strong concern over extremist elements threatening diplomatic missions and minority communities. On December 21, the ministry of external affairs rejected what it called false narratives suggesting security breaches at Bangladesh’s High Commission in Delhi, insisting protests were brief and controlled. New Delhi urged Dhaka to bring perpetrators of the lynching of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das to justice and said it remained vigilant over minority safety. Bangladesh to scale back diplomatic presence in India?Bangladesh’s interim government said that it may review the scale of its diplomatic presence in New Delhi if the situation continues to worsen. Foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain made the remarks hours after India dismissed as “misleading propaganda” Bangladeshi media reports on protests outside the Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi.Also read: Bangladesh to scale back diplomatic presence in India? What its FM Touhid Hossain said“Regarding the Indian press note, we completely reject it, entirely reject it. The issue has been presented as if it were very simple, whereas in reality it is not,” state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) quoted Hossain as saying at the media briefing.Sheikh Hasina lashes out at YunusFrom exile in India, Sheikh Hasina blamed Yunus entirely for Bangladesh’s instability, accusing the interim government of empowering extremists, failing to protect minorities, and undermining relations with India. She warned that lawlessness under Yunus had damaged Bangladesh’s credibility and endangered regional stability. Hasina claimed radical groups were exploiting Yunus to reshape foreign policy without a mandate, insisting that ties with India would normalise only after legitimate governance was restored. Her remarks added a powerful external voice to an already volatile political landscape.How the unrest started?The assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, shot at close range in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and later dying in Singapore, became the catalyst for widespread protests. A key figure in the July Uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina, Hadi’s death sparked anger among supporters who accused the state of inaction. Demonstrations erupted across Dhaka, with calls for accountability growing louder as Yunus declared a national day of mourning. The killing also fuelled fears that political violence was returning just weeks before a pivotal election.Protesters target Bangladeshi media outletsThe unrest soon spread to Bangladesh’s media houses, with violent mobs attacking the offices of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and other outlets in Dhaka. Prothom Alo was forced to halt print publication for the first time in its 27-year history. Yunus condemned the attacks, calling them assaults on truth and press freedom, and pledged full justice. Authorities later said 31 suspects had been identified through video footage, with several arrests made, but the damage to Bangladesh’s democratic image was already significant.(With inputs from agencies)

Denmark and Greenlandic Prime Ministers rebukes Trump’s appointment of special envoy (Photo: AP)

The Prime Ministers of Denmark and Greenland, in a stance against US President Donald Trump‘s appointment of a special envoy, demanded respect for their territorial integrity. They insisted that the US won’t take over Greenland and that the sovereignty of the nation is rooted in international law.“We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement. “They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.”Trump, on Sunday, announced the appointment of Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland. This has added fuel to the ongoing tensions regarding Trump’s intention of the US annexation of the land. Denmark’s foreign minister, on Monday, told Danish broadcasters that he would summon the US ambassador to his ministry.Further in the statement, Frederiksen’s office stated, “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the US shall not take over Greenland. We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.”

Who is Jeff Landry?

The governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, has been appointed as the special envoy to Greenland by Trump. While the exact scope of the role is yet unclear, Jeff shall still be holding the governor’s office. Landry is a conservative fighter who, before winning the governor’s race, was appointed as Louisiana’s attorney general in 2016. Throughout his time in office, he became a frequent legal adversary of Democratic leadership, launching numerous courtroom challenges against the agendas of both the Biden administration and his predecessor, John Bel Edwards, including pandemic vaccine mandates, environmental regulations, etc.Being a staunch Trump supporter, Landry had also applauded the deployment of border patrol agents in New Orleans. The mission, known as Operation Catahoula Crunch (or “Swamp Sweep”), set a target of 5,000 arrests of individuals without permanent legal status. Landry framed the move as a necessary strike against “criminal illegal aliens,” The operation sparked intense backlash for its heavy-handed approach and reports of aggressive tactics.In June 2025, Landry led a Louisiana delegation to the International Paris Air Show to boost the state’s aerospace industry and attract global investment.While Landry has little formal history with the Danish government, President Trump recently appointed him as the U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland. Landry described the volunteer role as a mission to “make Greenland a part of the U.S.,” sparking a diplomatic row with Denmark. This move follows Trump’s pattern of using personal loyalists to manage unconventional international priorities.Announcing the appointment of the envoy on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump went on to say that Jeff understands the importance of Greenland for the US’ national security and shall be extending the US’s interest.

Later on Monday, reiterating the security claims, Trump said the US needed Greenland “not for minerals” and claimed Russian and Chinese vessels were operating extensively in the region, and said Landry would “lead the charge.”“We need Greenland for national security,” Trump told reporters on Monday, “And if you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”

Trump Greenland claims

In the initial months of his second term, Trump had expressed a strong interest in taking over the largely self-governing island territory. In August, Danish officials summoned the top US diplomat in Copenhagen following a report that at least three people with connections to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.As The Guardian reports, according to a poll in January, the vast majority of Greenland’s 57,000 inhabitants want to become independent from Denmark but have no wish to become part of the US. The territory has had the right to declare independence since 2009.

Fresh off their historic ODI World Cup triumph and a dominant 8-wicket victory in the series opener, India Women look to clinch a series lead as they face Sri Lanka Women in the 2nd T20I at Visakhapatnam.

With the first match showcasing Jemimah Rodrigues‘ red-hot form and India’s disciplined bowling, the pressure is squarely on Chamari Athapaththu’s side to keep the 5-match series alive before it shifts to Thiruvananthapuram.

IND-W vs SL-W, 2nd T20I: Match Details

• Date and Time: December 23; 1:30 pm GMT / 7:00 pm IST
• Venue: ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

IND-W vs SL-W Head to Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 27 | India Women won: 21 | Sri Lanka Women won: 05 | No result: 01

ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

In the first T20I, the surface played slightly ‘sticky’ rather than being a flat batting deck. Expect the ball to hold up a bit in the first innings, making it crucial for batters to spend time before playing big shots. The track traditionally favors spinners. With the match being played on a reused surface or a similar square, players like Deepti Sharma and Inoka Ranaweera will find plenty of grip and turn. Once the initial ‘stickiness’ wears off and the dew sets in, the ball will likely come onto the bat much better. This was evident in the 1st T20I when India chased down 122 in under 15 overs. This is a classic ‘chase-favored’ venue.

Also READ: Jemimah Rodrigues, bowlers propel India to comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in 1st T20I

Squads

India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, G Kamalini

Sri Lanka Women: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Rashmika Sewwandi, Imesha Dulani, Kawya Kavindi, Nimesha Madushani, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera, Malsha Shehani, Shashini Gimhani

IND-W vs SL-W, 2nd T20I: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• India Women wins the toss and bowls first
• Sri Lanka Women’s powerplay score: 35-45
• Sri Lanka Women’s total score: 130-140

Case 2:

• Sri Lanka Women wins the toss and bowls first
• India Women’s powerplay score: 50-60
• India Women’s total score: 165-175

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.

Also READ: IND-W vs SL-W: Smriti Mandhana breaks Suzie Bates’ record in T20Is

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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RAIPUR: Chaitanya, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, received Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore as his share from an alleged liquor scam in the state, the Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing (ACB/EOW) has claimed in its chargesheet.The state police’s ACB/EOW, in its seventh supplementary chargesheet in the multi-crore liquor scam filed before a special court here on Monday, claimed Chaitanya Baghel played a key role in establishing, coordinating, and protecting an extortion racket (syndicate) within the excise department (during the previous Congress government, which was in office from 2018-23).The voluminous document, running into around 3,800 pages, has named Chaitnaya Baghel as an accused in the alleged scam pegged at more than Rs 3,000 crore, an ACB/EOW statement said.With this, a total of eight chargesheets have been filed in the case so far.The latest chargesheet details the current status of the investigation against the arrested accused, along with digital evidence reports about all those in custody. The document also outlines the progress of the ongoing probe against the accused persons.The statement quoting the chargesheet said Chaitanya Baghel acted as coordinator among officials such as Anil Tuteja, Soumya Chaurasia, Arunpati Tripathi, and Niranjan Das, who worked in line with the syndicate’s interests at the administrative level and as ground-level operatives of the network, such as Anwar Dhebar, Arvind Singh, and Vikas Agarwal (all co-accused), and issued instructions to them.Chaitanya Baghel worked through his trusted associates to transfer and manage proceeds of the scam collected by businessman Anwar Dhebar’s team, moving the funds to higher levels, it claimed.He allegedly received his share of the proceeds through various firms belonging to liquor businessman Trilok Singh Dhillon, transferring it through banking channels to his family firms and using it in real estate projects.Furthermore, he was also found to have received and invested large sums of money generated out of the scam through banking channels via his family members, friends, and associates, the chargesheet claimed.The probe agency said, “Evidence indicates that Chaitanya, along with managing the proceeds of the crime at a higher level, received around Rs 200 crore-Rs 250 crore as his share.” The investigation has also revealed that high-level protection, policy/administrative intervention, and influence provided to the syndicate by Chaitanya Baghel enabled this crime to be perpetrated for a long period, it claimed.“The ongoing investigation suggests the amount involved in the liquor scam is estimated to be approximately Rs 3,074 crore. However, further investigation suggests the total amount of the proceeds of crime generated out of the alleged scam could exceed Rs 3,500 crore,” it added.The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money laundering angle in the alleged scam, arrested Chaitanya Baghel on July 18 following a search at his house, which he shares with his father, a Congress politician, in Bhilai town of Durg district.As per the ED’s prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed earlier, Chaitanya Baghel “handled” more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of “proceeds of crime” generated from a liquor “scam” in the state.The central agency has stated that the alleged scam resulted in a “massive loss” to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate.The scam was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when then-CM Bhupesh Baghel headed the Congress government in Chhattisgarh.Money was “illegally” collected from “every” bottle of liquor sold in Chhattisgarh (between 2019 and 2022), said the anti-money laundering agency.Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ACB/EOW in September while he was in jail under judicial custody.The ED in January arrested former excise minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, businessman Anwar Dhebar (brother of Congress leader and former Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar), former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and a few others as part of their probe in the case.The EOW/ACB registered an FIR on January 17, 2024, in the alleged scam, naming 70 individuals and companies, including Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand.After his son was arrested, former CM Baghel claimed that the action was taken because the Congress, during its rule, tried to stop the cutting of forests and mining activities in the state.The Congress leader also alleged that the probe agencies were being misused to target Opposition leaders. PTI

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday launched a broadside against Rahul Gandhi after he targeted the saffron party while addressing an event in Germany’s Berlin.BJP‘s national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Rahul and Congress want “chaos and unrest in Indian Democracy” “From Fighting Indian state, to threatening Anarchy. Rahul Gandhi’s Congress with his ideological patron George Soros wants Chaos, Unrest in Indian Democracy. Rahul goes abroad for uniting such Anti India forces,” Bhandari wrote on a post on X.“Congress hates Indian Democracy. Congress hates Bharat’s progress. Rahul Gandhi’s Congress wants Anarchy!” he added.Earlier, while addressing an event at Hertie School in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of “capturing the country’s institutional framework”, terming it an “attack” on the democratic system.Rahul alleged that the Centre has “weaponised” investigating agencies, suggesting a quid pro quo in which businessmen in India financially support the BJP rather than Opposition parties.“There is a wholesale capture of our instituteonal framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised. ED and CBI have zero cases against the BJP, and most of the political cases are against the people who oppose them. If you are a businessman and try to support the Congress, you are threatened. BJP uses the institutional framework of India as a tool to build political power. Look at the money the BJP has and the opposition has,” he said.“There is an attack on the democratic system. We have to find ways to counter this. We will create a system of opposition resistance that will succeed. We are not fighting the BJP, but their capture of the Indian institutional structure,” he added.Further, the Congress leader claimed that India and the West have “handed over” the production of goods to China and said that Made in China goods have crippled job creation in democracies, fuelling political turbulence across India, the United States and Europe.“The West and to an extent India, have handed over production to the Chinese. China dominates production today, which means that it is difficult to give employment to a large number of people. Countries like India, the US and Germany cannot give their employment based on services. How do democracies produce in this transition? What are the models that are required, how do you think about production in a democratic environment, and what are the types of partnerships that India, the US and Europe can create for production? It will become very difficult for democracy to sustain itself if we are not able to produce,” he said.“A huge part of the turbulence that we are seeing in Europe, India and the US, polarisation of politics, is because we are not able to give our people jobs, which is because we said: China, you produce for the world,” he added.Rahul Gandhi is on a five-day visit to Germany.His remarks come after he had claimed that manufacturing in India is declining.During his visit to the BMW World museum in Munich, Germany, on December 17, he said, “Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more – build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems, and create high-quality jobs at scale.”However, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari refuted the Lok Sabha LoP’s claim, calling it “fake news” against India’s growth story.The BJP Spokesperson, in an X post, claimed 495 per cent growth in total electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years, with exports growing by 760 per cent, and a 14 times increase in the automobile manufacturing since 1991.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon of Australia (Getty Images)

Australia will head into the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground without captain Pat Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, opting to manage workloads and injuries after securing an unassailable Ashes lead over England.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that Cummins has been rested as part of an ongoing management plan, while Lyon will undergo surgery on a torn right hamstring, sidelining him for an extended period. Todd Murphy and Jhye Richardson have been added to a 15-man squad for the fourth Test, which begins on Friday.

Australia have already retained the Ashes with dominant victories — eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane, followed by an 82-run triumph in Adelaide to take a 3-0 series lead. With the series safely in hand, selectors have chosen caution over continuity for the high-profile Boxing Day clash.Cummins, who returned in Adelaide after missing Tests since July due to lower back issues, claimed six wickets in the match. However, the fast bowler will now sit out in Melbourne and could also be under a cloud for the Sydney Test, given Australia’s focus on managing his long-term fitness.

Steve Smith will resume captaincy after missing the Adelaide Test with vertigo symptoms. Smith had previously led the side in Cummins’ absence earlier in the series.Lyon’s absence is a significant blow. The 38-year-old injured his right hamstring while diving to save a boundary on day five in Adelaide and hobbled off the field. Despite the injury, he claimed his 564th Test wicket in the match, moving past Glenn McGrath into sixth place on the all-time Test bowling list.Murphy is in line for a dream home Test debut, having played all seven of his previous Tests overseas. The Victorian spinner edged out Matt Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli for the spot and last featured for Australia in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Richardson, meanwhile, is eyeing a return to Test cricket after a four-year absence following three shoulder surgeries.Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc are set to spearhead the pace attack again after pulling up well from Adelaide, with Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett also in contention.Australia squad for fourth Test: