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Muhammad Yunus’ letter was a response to PM Modi’s message conveying Eid-ul-Adha greetings to Bangladeshi people and the interim chief adviser.

The spirit of mutual respect and understanding will continue to guide India and Bangladesh in working for people’s welfare, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yunus’ letter was a response to PM Modi’s message conveying Eid-ul-Adha greetings to Bangladeshi people and the interim chief adviser.

Yunus posted both letters in an X post on Sunday.

In his letter, he said that PM Modi’s “thoughtful” message “reflects the shared values” between the two countries. The chief adviser also extended his wishes to the prime minister and the people of India.

“I am confident that the spirit of mutual respect and understanding will continue to guide our nations to work together for the wellbeing of our peoples,” he said in the letter dated June 6.

Yunus added that the festival is a “time of reflection, which brings communities together in the spirit of festivity, sacrifice, generosity and unity, and inspires us all to work together for the greater benefits of the peoples across the world”.

In his letter dated June 4, PM Modi said the festival is an “integral part of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India”.

He said it “reminds us of the timeless values of sacrifice, compassion and brotherhood, which are essential in building a peaceful and inclusive world”.

Eid-ul-Adha is one of the main Islamic festivals. It commemorates the willingness of Abraham, considered a prophet by Abrahamic religions, to sacrifice his son to obey the command of God

By suspending the treaty as retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, India has been able to control, to some extent, the western rivers and flow of water to Pakistan.

A Pakistan government report indicates a 13.3 per cent year-on-year shortfall in water drawn from the Indus River System – and supplied to already water-starved farms in the Punjab province – following India halting a 1960 water-sharing treaty for the Pahalgam terror attack.

The report by Pak’s Indus River System Authority said 124,500 cusecs were released from the Indus basin to dams on June 5, compared to the nearly 144,000 cusecs this time last year.

The shortfall, experts said, will affect the sowing of Kharif, or monsoonal, crops. Monsoon rains could improve this supply but, at least till then, crops in Pak’s Punjab province are at stake.

“In Pakistan, there is less water in rivers and reservoirs connected to the Indus River System, because of which farmers there are in a crisis. The sowing of Kharif crops is underway in Pak…” AK Bajaj, the ex-Chairman of the Central Water Commission, told NDTV.

Mr Bajaj said the particular problem facing Pak is that the monsoon only reaches Punjab province by the end of June or the first week of July. Till then, he said, the crisis could get bigger.

Media reports point to a nearly 21 per cent water shortage in Pak for the early Kharif season, which usually extends to June second week, due to India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.

The Indus Water Treaty was signed by India’s Jawaharlal Nehru and Pak’s Ayub Khan (File).

Pakistan must also battle a severe heatwave predicted this week; on Monday morning Karachi residents were warned of excessively hot and humid conditions for the next 24 hours at least.

The maximum temperature predicted was 37 degrees Celsius.

Heatwaves have also been predicted for Balochistan, which has recorded temperatures six degrees above normal for this time of year. The Sindh province has also been warned.

Indus River System

The Indus basin is fed mainly by the Ravi, the Jhelum, and the Indus itself, all three of which were allotted to Pak under the Indus Waters Treaty but flow through India before crossing over.

The agreement gives India rights over the eastern rivers – i.e., the Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab.

It also gives India the right to use some waters from the western rivers – those allotted to Pak – so long as its usage does not significantly affect the amount of water flowing into Pakistan.

By suspending the treaty as retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed, Delhi has been able to control, to some extent, the western rivers and flow of water to Pakistan.

It also means, Mr Bajaj told NDTV, that Pak is at “increased risk of floods” because India does not now have to, and is not, sharing data about the water level of rivers in the Indus system.

“…in such a situation, when the water level of connected rivers increases during the monsoon, it can increase the risk of floods in Pakistan, and it may have to face disasters.”

All of this has been red-flagged in Islamabad, which has now written four times, in quick succession, requesting India to reconsider its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.

The four letters were sent by Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza to India’s Jal Shakti Ministry, which forwarded them to the Foreign Ministry, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, has made it clear his government will not reconsider this decision, so long as Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism.

Plastic is washing ashore faster than it can be cleaned. Coral reefs are bleaching, fish stocks are dwindling, and sea levels are creeping into coastal homes.

But today, those oceans are gasping for air. Plastic is washing ashore faster than it can be cleaned. Coral reefs are bleaching, fish stocks are dwindling, and sea levels are creeping into coastal homes.

Now, imagine a global rescue mission: over 10,000 leaders, scientists, activists, and communities gathering in Nice, France, between June 9-13 to fight for the future of the seas.

It’s the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) – a high-stakes summit where the decisions made could shape the fate of coastlines from Mumbai to the Maldives, Chennai to Chile. For India -with its 7,500 km coastline – this is a moment to lead, innovate, and protect.

What’s UNOC3 All About?

The 2025 UN Ocean Conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, is focused on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Its theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.” Governments, scientists, NGOs, businesses, and everyday citizens must come together to tackle the ocean’s biggest threats: climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, and biodiversity loss.

UNOC3 builds on past conferences (New York in 2017 and Lisbon in 2022) and comes at a critical moment. With just 2.7% of ocean areas effectively protected, the urgency is real. The Nice 10 Ocean Action Plan seeks to translate bold commitments into measurable action.

Why Should India Care?

India’s connection with the ocean is deep – literally and figuratively. Our coastline supports millions of livelihoods: from fishermen in Tamil Nadu to tourism in Goa and major trade in ports like Mumbai. The Indian Ocean is vital for our food security, economic growth, and cultural heritage. But it’s under siege. Rising sea levels threaten the Sundarbans and cities like Chennai. Plastic waste chokes beaches from Versova to Visakhapatnam. Warming waters damage coral reefs in the Andamans.

Here’s why UNOC3 matters deeply to India:

1. Blue Economy Leadership

India is championing a sustainable Blue Economy-leveraging ocean resources for growth without degrading ecosystems. At UNOC3, led by Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, India will push for fair ocean governance and sustainable fisheries, aligning with domestic efforts like the Sagarmala Project to modernize ports, boost coastal infrastructure, and drive economic growth through efficient maritime logistics.

2. Tackling Plastic Pollution

India’s beaches are battling plastic waste. With the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations approaching in August 2025, UNOC3 is a key platform for India to push for a strong global pact-building on national policies like the Plastic Waste Management Rules.

3. Protecting Biodiversity

India is actively engaged in agreements like the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), which is a landmark global agreement to protect marine biodiversity in international waters beyond national jurisdictions. With only 1% of global oceans currently protected, India’s reefs and marine species urgently need this treaty to achieve the 30×30 goal. UNOC3 is a critical moment to rally the 10 more countries needed for ratification.

4. Boosting Climate Resilience

India’s coastal cities face real risks from sea-level rise. The launch of the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition on June 7, provide science-based planning and funding support for cities like Mumbai.

The Global Stakes: A Planet on the Brink

Warming oceans are fueling stronger cyclones and disrupting marine life. Plastic could outweigh fish by 2050. Overfishing threatens food security for millions. Coral reefs and mangroves-crucial carbon sinks-are vanishing fast. The ocean is in crisis, and time is running out.

At UNOC3, the world is focused on key priorities:

Ratifying the High Seas Treaty: Only 50 countries have done so; they need 10 more to protect global commons.

Ending harmful fisheries subsidies that fuel overfishing.

Scaling up ocean science to drive data-driven policies.

The Nice Ocean Action Plan offers a roadmap to accelerate SDG 14, with voluntary commitments from countries, corporations, and communities alike.

At UNOC3, India will champion its vision through platforms like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and uphold principles under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). From protecting mangroves in the Sundarbans to expanding sustainable aquaculture, India’s actions could inspire a global ripple effect.

And it’s not just governments. India’s youth – already active in beach cleanups and ocean literacy campaigns – can be powerful change agents too.

The comparison, especially over the last 15 years, shows a stark difference in priorities between the two south Asian neighbours.

Latest data released by the World Bank shows the tale of two countries – India and Pakistan – and their journey to battle poverty – a colonial inheritance. The comparison, especially over the last 15 years, shows a stark difference in priorities between the two south Asian neighbours.

While the data for India, released on Saturday, gives a comparative analysis of poverty between 2011-12 and 2022-23, for Pakistan, it highlights the same between 2017-18 and 2020-21. This also comes at a time when India’s economy has been in the news last week for surpassing that of Japan’s to become the fourth-largest in the world, and Pakistan’s was in the news last month for yet another bailout package from the IMF as it struggles to stay afloat.

While India’s growth story has been a result of its governance model – of development and poverty alleviation, Pakistan’s plight has been a result of its misappropriation of funds and its policy on terror.

WHAT THE DATA REVEALS

Keeping inflation as one of its primary indicators, the World Bank has revised its global income threshold from $2.15 per person, per day to $3 per person, per day to ascertain what percentage of the population lives above the ‘extreme poverty’ line.

According to World Bank’s Poverty and Shared Prosperity report, despite the upward revision of per-person income, between 2012 and 2022, extreme poverty in India declined from 27.1 per cent to 5.3 per cent of the total population. 

The report states that in India, 75.24 million people were living in extreme poverty during 2022-23, a massive drop from 344.47 million in 2011-12. This means 269 million individuals – more than the entire population of Pakistan – were lifted out of extreme poverty in India in just 11 years.

Sadly, for Pakistan, the story is quite the opposite. Extreme poverty figures have risen from 4.9 per cent to 16.5 per cent in less than 5 years between 2017 and 2021. Analysts suggest that the situation could be far worse because of Pakistan’s outdated Household Income and Expenditure Survey. To add to this, the overall poverty headcount in Pakistan – at $4.2 per person, per day – has risen from 39.8 per cent of the total population in 2017 to  more than 44.7 per cent in 2021.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s economy has been completely dependent on loans from global institutions and friendly countries. It has taken 25 bailout packages from the IMF with a cumulative amount of $44.57 billion, and another $38.8 billion in loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Islamic Development Bank. Besides this, loans from China stand at more than $25 billion and $7.8 billion from lenders like Eurobonds and Sukuks. Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the Paris Club have also extended several billion in loans to cash-strapped Islamabad.

‘FUNDING AND SUPPORTING TERROR’

However, Pakistan has been far from transparent in its allocation of funds. It has been pulled up several times by international financial institutions over Islamabad’s lack of accountability. Islamabad and Rawalpindi’s obsession with India and its age-old habit to compare with New Delhi has seen Pakistan spending most of its funds allocated to the country’s infamous army, which in turn, has a policy of “bleeding India with a thousand cuts” with its asymmetric warfare against India by funding, setting up terror infrastructure, and supporting terrorists and terror outfits who carry out “cross-border terror”.

Speaking to NDTV, former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, said, “The world cannot fix the Pakistan problem unless the structural problem of Pakistan army’s overwhelming presence in politics and economy is fixed. Pakistan’s army controls the allocation of resources. So, all the funds that are sent either via bilateral donors or multilateral donors ends up being misused by the army and in building the terror machinery. All donors will do well to get a wake-up call from the data which shows that only the Pakistani army is getting enriched by its bailouts.”

“The world will do well to put strong FATF-like conditions to monitor the aid money that goes to Pakistan to ensure funds are used for development and the benefit of the people of Pakistan,” he added.

Another diplomat, former Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar, told NDTV that “The Pakistani government’s priorities focus mainly on defence purchases on one end, and building a terror apparatus on the other end. Growth and development are phrases that are unheard of in Pakistani politics, as all governments have an unhealthy obsession with bringing India down, economically, politically and socially, rather than focusing on its own pressing domestic issues.”

“But dismantling terror factories are not on Pakistan’s agenda since most continue to indulge in falsehoods. When Congressman Brad Sherman told Pakistan to end terror, he also spoke on behalf of millions of Pakistanis who see their development funds being funneled away towards terror and towards fulfilling the inflated egos of Pakistani generals,” he added.

An economist, Piyush Doshi, co-founder of the Foundation for Economic Development said, “Pakistan spending money in defence, particularly when it comes at the cost of very important development expenditure, is illogical. The world will be doing the people of Pakistan a favour by blacklisting the country, which will then force them to make rational choices and using funds to benefit its citizens.”

The latest World Bank data tells a story – a tale of two neighbours – one surging ahead and the other collapsing. Both are setting an example for the Global South – of how to be and how not to be. The message is clear: Poverty is not destiny, it is policy, leadership and will.
 

Los Angeles Protests: In an extraordinary move, Donald Trump had ordered the National Guard of California to be deployed in LA to confront the protesters who were demonstrating their support to migrants.

Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, announced on Monday that he plans to sue the President over his administration’s crackdown on protests that have rocked Los Angeles over the last 72 hours. In an extraordinary move, Donald Trump had ordered the National Guard of California to be deployed in LA to confront the protesters who were demonstrating their support to migrants.

Disregarding the federal law, the Trump Administration ordered a massive crackdown on immigrants, arresting them off the streets in Los Angeles. This led to mass protests with tens of thousands descending on the streets across the city.

‘ILLEGAL AND UNLAWFUL’

“Commandeering a state’s National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” Newsom, a Democrat, told news broadcaster MSNBC, threatening to sue the President for his “illegal move”.

Tensions remain high after the Trump administration called in the National Guard – a move rejected by leaders of that state – following violent clashes allegedly instigated by the police during a series of immigration raids.

There was a deafening silence early morning Monday across Los Angeles, a city of more than 4 million people, as hundreds of California National Guard troops were seen parading in various neighbourhoods across the city. Less than 24 hours ago, law enforcement agencies were seen firing tear gas shells, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades as protesters retaliated by setting police vehicles on fire and blocking off a major freeway.

‘A GREAT DECISION’, SAYS TRUMP

Minutes after the California Governor’s announcement – that he plans to sue the President, Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that “We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated. The very incompetent “Governor,”  Gavin Newscum, and “Mayor,” Karen Bass, should be saying, “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.” Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren’t needed, and that these are ‘peaceful protests’.”

He added that “Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know. We will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

According to news agency Associated Press, the National Guard was deployed specifically to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters concentrated.

‘OVERWHELMED COPS’

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were “overwhelmed” by the protesters. He said they included “regular agitators” who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble. Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. Many others dispersed on Sunday evening after police declared an unlawful assembly, a precursor to officers moving in and arresting those who don’t leave.

Earlier on Sunday, amid a severe crackdown by law enforcement agencies, agitated protesters resorted to violence. Some threw objects at the police, while others hurled chunks of concrete, rocks, and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. Officers had to run under an overpass to take cover at one point.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

This is not the first time President Trump has called in the National Guard to quell protests. In 2020, he had told the governors of several states to send troops to Washington, DC, to respond to demonstrations that arose after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers. Only the Governors who agreed, had sent their National Guard.

Contrary to that, this time, Trump directly ordered in the National Guard without consulting the Governor, who under normal circumstances, would retain control and command of California’s National Guard.

WHAT THE US LAWS SAY ABOUT TRUMP’S MOVE

Usually, federal military forces are not permitted to carry out civilian law enforcement duties against citizens of the United States of America, except in times of emergency.

An 18th-century wartime law, known as the Insurrection Act, is the main legal mechanism that a President can use to activate the military or National Guard during times of rebellion or unrest. But President Trump didn’t invoke the Insurrection Act, and instead used another method.

He relied on a similar federal law, known as Title 10 authority, that allows the President to federalise National Guard troops under certain circumstances. These include:

1. When the US is invaded or in danger of invasion.
2. When there is a rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the US government.
3. When the President is unable to execute the laws of the United States with regular forces.

However, the law also says that such orders “shall be issued through the governors of the States.” There is a lack of clarity on whether the President can activate National Guard troops without the order of that state’s Governor.

Once this law is invoked, it places the National Guard directly under the President’s command, and not that of the Governor’s.

The National Guard is an entity that serves both state and federal interests.

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