HT Morning News Brief September 2: Sheikh Hasina exclusive, PM Modi vs ‘double standards’ and a cricket crisis

Here's your one-stop briefing on today's top political, sports, and entertainment stories. Here's your one-stop briefing on today's top political, sports, and entertainment stories. Plus, don't miss our exclusive — Sheikh Hasina's first telephonic interview with Indian media since stepping down.Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, in Bishkek on Tuesday. (DPR PMO)US, Iran trade fresh strikes as hostilities escalate againUS-Iran hostilities have escalated again, with the US military launching a fresh wave of strikes and Iran claiming retaliation. US Central Command said it hit "air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites" linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. President Trump said the strikes responded to Iran's attempted mining of the Strait of Hormuz and an earlier attack on a US military base, warning of further action if Tehran retaliates, Bloomberg reported. Click here for Live Updates.Exclusive: Returning home on my own, no extradition link, says ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh HasinaFormer Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina, in her first telephonic interview with Indian media, has questioned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government’s move to link her extradition to a possible visit to New Delhi by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, pointing out that she intends to return home on her own by December. “I am going back to my own country, I don’t understand why he [Rahman] is objecting to that. They are talking about the extradition treaty, I want to go back on my own to my country. I will go back," she said. Click here to read the full interview.With Shehbaz Sharif in attendance, Modi calls out 'double standards' on terrorism at SCODeep DiveThe West Asia conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and not on the battlefield, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, even as he urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) states to shun “double standards” while unitedly countering the challenge of terrorism. Modi made the remarks while addressing the 26th SCO Summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. The comments were made before a gathering that included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping of China, which has often stymied India’s efforts to sanction Pakistani terrorists at bodies such as the UN Security Council. Click here to read more.Girl jumps off Faridabad school roof, dies; dad says made to stand in sun for hoursA 16-year-old student died by suicide after jumping from her school's third-floor terrace in Faridabad on Tuesday, police said. Her family alleges she was made to stand in the sun for hours as punishment; the school has denied this. Click here to read more.Pakistan players had no idea: Family messages revealed PCB's 'frustration' had exploded into ‘full-blown upheaval’Once world beaters, Pakistan cricket has long descended into chaos across formats. In Tests, in particular, the side has fallen to the bottom of the World Test Championship table in the current cycle, managing just two wins in eight games. But on Monday evening in London, the team was reduced to utter "shock and confusion" when nearly half of the side, along with two coaches, were released from the squad right in the middle of the Test tour of England. Click here to know more.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MoreNarendra ModiSheikh HasinaGet the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.