United News of Bangladesh

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that the revised U.S. proposal for ending the war with Russia “looks better,” though negotiations are still underway. He made the remarks in Paris after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to shape the terms of a possible ceasefire in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. At the same time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Tuesday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff recently drew scrutiny following reports that he had coached one of Putin’s advisers on how to present Moscow’s position to Donald Trump regarding the peace plan. Zelenskyy’s trip to Paris followed talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials on Sunday, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as constructive. Both sides are working to revise the original American-drafted proposal, which emerged from Washington-Moscow discussions but was criticized for favoring Russian demands. Late Monday, Russia claimed fresh battlefield victories as negotiations approached, saying its forces had seized the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Peskov said Putin was briefed on the capture Sunday. Zelenskyy, however, insisted fighting in the area was still ongoing. A complex stage of negotiations Zelenskyy called discussions over Ukrainian territorial control “the most complicated” aspect of the peace plan. Macron said talks remain in an “early phase” but suggested the current diplomatic momentum could mark a turning point for Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security. Following criticism from Kyiv and European capitals, Trump has distanced himself from his administration’s earlier 28-point peace plan—which would have limited Ukraine’s military, barred its NATO membership, and required territorial concessions—calling it merely a “concept” that still needs refinement. Macron praised U.S. engagement but said any final agreement must include Europe. He again urged Western allies last week to provide Ukraine with strong security guarantees should a ceasefire or peace deal be reached, including a possible “reassurance force” across land, sea, and air. Macron said key discussions among the U.S. and Western partners will take place in the coming days to clarify America’s role in such guarantees. His office said he and Zelenskyy also conferred with leaders from numerous European nations, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Both leaders spoke by phone with Witkoff, and Zelenskyy later traveled to Ireland. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that U.S.-Russia talks risk pressuring Ukraine into making excessive concessions, including on territory. “I’m afraid all the pressure will be put on the victim,” she said. Russia touts more gains Russian state media released footage of Putin in military gear meeting top commanders Sunday. General Valery Gerasimov reported that Russian troops had fully taken Pokrovsk—referred to by Russia by its Soviet-era name, Krasnoarmeysk—as well as Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region. Another commander said fighting continued against “small remaining enemy groups” in Pokrovsk. Ukraine did not immediately comment, and the claims could not be independently confirmed. Pokrovsk sits along a key fortified defensive line in Donetsk, crucial for protecting cities like Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, and Druzhkivka. Zelenskyy also dismissed Russia’s claim that Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region had been captured, saying Ukrainian forces had cleared out almost all Russian troops there. Putin, in the released footage, asserted that Russian troops hold the initiative along the entire front. Meanwhile, Moscow condemned Ukrainian attacks over the weekend on Russian energy infrastructure, including a strike on a Caspian Pipeline Consortium oil terminal near Novorossiysk and attacks on two tankers in the Black Sea. Ukraine confirmed the operations. Russian officials called the attacks “outrageous,” noting the CPC terminal is an international facility. Russia’s Defense Ministry said 32 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across 11 regions and over the Sea of Azov. In Dagestan, an apartment building was damaged in a Ukrainian strike on Kaspiysk, more than 1,000 kilometers from the front. Deadly strike on Dnipro Around midday Monday, a Russian missile hit central Dnipro, killing four people and injuring 40 more, including 11 critically, according to regional officials. The blast damaged residential buildings, an educational institution, and a humanitarian warehouse, and rescue efforts continued through the day. Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russia had launched 89 attack and decoy drones overnight before the strike; 63 were intercepted or jammed. In total during November, Russia fired 100 missiles and nearly 9,600 drones of various types at Ukraine, the Air Force said.

Jailed PTI founder Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, has voiced alarm that authorities may be concealing “something irreversible” about his father’s condition. His concern follows continued protests and sit-ins by PTI leaders and Imran’s sisters outside Adiala jail, where the former prime minister is being held, after being prevented from meeting him for more than three weeks. Despite a court order allowing weekly prison visits, the family has had no direct or verifiable contact with Imran, Kasim told Reuters, as restrictions remain in place and speculation grows over possible transfers to another facility. “Not knowing whether your father is safe, injured or even alive is a form of psychological torture,” he said in written remarks, noting that there had been no independently confirmed communication for a couple of months. “Today we have no verifiable information at all about his condition,” he added. “Our greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us.” He said the family has repeatedly sought access for Imran’s personal physician, who has been denied the chance to examine him for more than a year. Pakistan’s interior ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. A jail official, speaking anonymously, said Imran was in good health and that he was unaware of any plan to shift him to a higher-security facility. Imran, 72, has been in prison since August 2023 after convictions in multiple cases he claims are politically motivated following his 2022 ouster in a no-confidence vote. His first conviction was in the Toshakhana case over allegedly selling state gifts, followed by lengthy sentences in the cipher case and the Al Qadir Trust case. The PTI maintains that the prosecutions were designed to sideline Imran from public life and the 2024 elections. Family anxiety grows amid silence Imran’s family says the extended lack of communication has intensified their fear of what they believe is a deliberate attempt to keep him hidden from public view. “This isolation is intentional,” Kasim said, accusing authorities of cutting his father off. “They are scared of him. He is Pakistan’s most popular leader, and they know they cannot defeat him democratically.” Kasim and his elder brother, Suleiman Isa Khan, who live in London with their mother, Jemima Goldsmith, have largely stayed away from politics, speaking rarely except about their father’s imprisonment. Kasim said the last time they saw Imran was in November 2022, when they visited after he survived an assassination attempt. “That image has stayed with me ever since. Seeing our father in that state is something you don’t forget,” he said. “We were told he would recover with time. Now, after weeks of total silence and no proof of life, that memory carries a different weight.” He said the family is pursuing both domestic and international avenues, including appeals to human rights bodies, to restore court-ordered access. “This is not just a political dispute,” Kasim said. “It is a human rights emergency. Pressure must come from every direction. We draw strength from him, but we need to know he is safe.” Responding to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s claim in a Zeteo interview that Imran’s sons can meet him, Jemima said, “They’re not even allowed to speak to him on the phone. No one is.” HRCP voices concern The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was concerned about the conditions of Imran’s incarceration and the repeated denial of meetings with family members and lawyers. “Allegations indicating that he has been unable to meet close relatives, associates or legal counsel warrant urgent clarification, as regular and unhindered access to immediate family and counsel is a fundamental safeguard against isolation and misuse of detention powers,” it wrote on X. HRCP urged the federal government and the Punjab Home Department to ensure that all procedures “comply with constitutional due-process protections and international standards for humane treatment.” END/UNB/FH/1850 Hrs  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a presidential pardon as he stands trial on long-running corruption charges that have sharply divided the country. The move drew swift indignation Sunday from opposition leaders and government watchdog groups, while some Israelis voiced support and suggested it was time for the nation to move on. The president’s office described the request as “extraordinary” and carrying “significant implications.” At issue are both the integrity of Israel’s justice system and Netanyahu’s continued grip on political power. Here’s what to know. The charges Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israel’s history to stand trial. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters including a telecom company, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher. The Justice Ministry announced the indictments in the three cases in 2019, after years of investigations, and the trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary. He has not been convicted of anything. Netanyahu has repeatedly requested postponements of his testimony, citing diplomatic engagements or security issues around Israel’s wars in the past two years with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Earlier delays in the trial were caused in part by years of political crisis that gridlocked Israel, with Netanyahu returning to office in late 2022. The delays have angered many Israelis, including some parents of hostages long held in Gaza who accused Netanyahu of drawing out the war with Hamas as part of efforts to stay in office. Netanyahu’s argument The prime minister has portrayed himself in the trial as the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy trying to oust him. He said his pardon request would help unify Israel at a time of momentous change in the Middle East, and asserted that an “immediate conclusion of the trial would greatly help to lower the flames and promote the broad reconciliation that our country so desperately needs.” Some government ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, expressed support for his request. Just weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu, turning to President Isaac Herzog during his speech to Israel’s parliament last month. Earlier this month, Trump also sent a letter to Herzog calling the corruption case “political, unjustified prosecution.” Netanyahu mentioned Trump's request in his statement Sunday. Herzog is a former political rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good working relationship. Herzog in the past has said he believes the best way to end this legal chapter would be through a settlement between prosecutors and Netanyahu’s lawyers. Many Israelis are sensitive to issues involving Netanyahu and the law. Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, the prime minister launched a plan to overhaul the justice system. That sparked huge anti-government protests as opponents accused him of trying to weaken the system of checks and balances and having a conflict of interest at a time when he was on trial. The plan was revived earlier this year after being put on hold after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The criticism Opponents of the pardon request said it could weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that some people in Israel are above the law. “He basically says, ‘I’m completely innocent, I’m sure that I can prove this innocence, but not for my own interest, for the country’s interest I’m requesting this pardon,’" said Yohanan Plesner, president of The Israel Democracy Institute. "So there is no assumption of responsibility whatsoever, and this might project a problematic message to all public figures and to what our public norms might look like.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu cannot be granted a pardon “without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political life.” Legal experts said the pardon request cannot stop the trial. The only way to stop it is to ask the attorney general to withhold the proceedings, said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Justice Ministry. What’s next The pardon request will be sent to the Justice Ministry for opinions and then transferred to the legal adviser in the Office of the President, which will formulate additional opinions. Experts said the president has broad discretion to grant one, and oversight is limited. However, “as a rule, the president reviews a pardon request only after all legal proceedings have ended. The possibility of a pre-conviction pardon ... is extremely rare,” The Israel Democracy Institute wrote earlier this month. “A pardon before conviction, while legal proceedings are ongoing, threatens the rule of law and seriously undermines the principle of equality before the law.”

Recovery efforts intensified on Monday across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand as authorities reported new casualties from last week’s severe floods and landslides that have killed more than 1,000 people in the three countries. Officials said at least 502 people have died in Indonesia, 334 in Sri Lanka and 170 in Thailand. Hundreds more remain missing after days of heavy rain that triggered widespread destruction. Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto visited Sumatra island, where floods and landslides left thousands homeless and 508 people unaccounted for. He promised to rebuild damaged infrastructure and ensure relief reaches affected communities. Some areas remain cut off after roads and communication lines were damaged. Indonesia’s disaster agency said aircraft are delivering supplies to remote areas, while more than 290,000 people have been displaced in North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh. Prabowo said the disaster shows the need for stronger environmental protection and climate preparedness. He urged local governments to strengthen mitigation efforts and stressed the impact of future extreme weather. In Sri Lanka, rescuers continued searching for 370 missing people. Nearly 148,000 survivors are staying in temporary shelters after days of heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides, particularly in the central hill country. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday detailed recovery and compensation plans for the country’s southern region. Officials said severe flooding in 12 southern provinces has affected more than 1.4 million households and 3.8 million people.

Evidence gathered by the BBC suggests that Georgian authorities used a World War One-era chemical agent, camite, against anti-government protesters last year, causing long-lasting health effects. Protesters in Tbilisi, demonstrating against the government’s suspension of the country’s European Union accession bid, reported severe burning sensations when sprayed with water cannon, along with weeks of coughing, shortness of breath, vomiting, and fatigue. One protester, Gela Khasaia, said his skin burned and could not be washed off. A study led by Dr. Konstantine Chakhunashvili, a pediatrician sprayed during the protests, surveyed nearly 350 participants and found that almost half suffered symptoms for more than 30 days. Sixty-nine were examined medically, revealing “significantly higher abnormalities” in heart electrical signals. The study has been peer-reviewed and accepted by the journal Toxicology Reports. Chemical weapons experts, whistleblowers from Georgia’s riot police, and document evidence indicate that the water cannon likely contained camite, a potent chemical first used by France in World War One. Former riot police officer Lasha Shergelashvili said he had previously tested the chemical and warned against its use due to its persistent effects, but the cannons continued to be loaded with it until at least 2022. An inventory obtained by the BBC listed chemicals coded UN1710 and UN3439, later identified as trichloroethylene and bromobenzyl cyanide (camite). Toxicology expert Prof. Christopher Holstege confirmed that clinical findings from protesters were consistent with camite exposure and inconsistent with conventional riot-control agents such as CS gas. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, called the use of the chemical “exceedingly dangerous” and said populations should never be subjected to experimental agents. She stressed that riot-control measures must have only temporary effects under international law, and described the reported symptoms as potentially constituting torture or ill-treatment. Georgian authorities dismissed the BBC findings as “absurd” and said police had acted legally in response to “illegal actions of brutal criminals.” The protests on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue have continued nightly for the past year, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of the government over alleged election rigging, pro-Russian policies, and restrictive civil society legislation. The ruling Georgian Dream party denied pursuing Russian interests, asserting that recent laws served public welfare.   With inputs from BBC

Thousands of people protested across Croatia on Sunday against a rising far-right movement following a series of incidents that heightened ethnic and political tensions. Demonstrations under the banner “United against fascism” took place in four major cities, including the capital Zagreb. Protesters chanted “we are all antifascists” and called on authorities to curb far-right groups and their frequent use of pro-fascist symbols linked to Croatia’s World War II pro-Nazi puppet state, which ran concentration camps where tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma, and antifascist Croats were killed. A protest declaration said, “We will not agree to treating national minorities as a provocation or to a form of patriotism that draws from the darkest chapter of our history.” Journalist Maja Sever addressed the crowd in Zagreb, saying, “All that has been happening around us is very dangerous. You have shown you will not be quiet but that we will fight for a democratic society.” Counter-gatherings by young men in black occurred in Rijeka and Zadar, where they shouted insults and threw firecrackers and red paint at protesters, according to the HRT public broadcaster. Incidents in November targeted ethnic Serb cultural events in Zagreb and Split, raising fears of ethnic violence decades after the 1991-95 Serb-Croat war. Extremists also directed attacks at liberal groups, politicians, and foreign workers, often using the Nazi-era Ustasha salute “For the homeland — Ready!” Iva Davorija, organizer of the Zadar march, said, “They are throwing smoke bombs, firecrackers, and threatening violence, raising their right hand in the air and shouting the slogan. They are doing this freely.” Croatia’s political shift to the right began after Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s conservative party formed a coalition with a far-right party following last year’s parliamentary election, excluding an ethnic Serb party from government for the first time in years. The trend intensified after a July concert by right-wing singer Marko Perkovic, known as Thompson, who frequently uses the World War II-era slogan in his songs. Despite bans in some European cities, he remains highly popular in Croatia. Prime Minister Plenkovic denied ignoring far-right extremism and neo-fascist hate speech, accusing leftist opponents of exaggerating the problem and deepening divisions. Croatia, formerly part of Communist Yugoslavia, joined NATO in 2009 and the European Union in 2013, following a series of nationalist wars in the 1990s that left over 10,000 people dead.  

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is projecting a softer image as U.S. military action looms, singing John Lennon’s Imagine and repeating a new English slogan, “No War, Yes Peace.” But behind the shift lies a hardened system of control built on rewarding loyalty and harshly punishing dissent, a structure that has kept his circle intact despite years of international pressure. Maduro’s sudden embrace of English is a stark contrast to past speeches where he urged Venezuelans to avoid foreign words like skatepark and fashion. Opposition supporters say the new tone shows desperation and insist that the threat of U.S. force should fracture the ruling elite. Months of pressure, however, have yet to trigger defections or force a transition. Analysts say the resilience comes from a loyalty-or-punishment strategy rooted in Chavismo, the political movement founded by Hugo Chávez. Officials who stay loyal, including ministers, judges and military commanders, benefit from corruption networks built during Chávez’s rule and strengthened under Maduro. Those who break ranks face prison, torture or worse, especially if they are part of the military. Ronal Rodríguez of Colombia’s Universidad del Rosario said Chavismo thrives under outside pressure, uniting its members to protect their power. He said the movement has used corruption and fear to keep rivals down and remove threats inside government. The Venezuelan opposition, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, expected the military to help oust Maduro after credible evidence showed he lost the 2024 presidential election. But military leaders stood by him, just as they did in 2019 when soldiers pledged loyalty to Juan Guaidó during a failed revolt. Since returning to office, U.S. President Donald Trump has tightened pressure, doubling the reward for Maduro’s arrest to 50 million dollars on narcoterrorism charges. The U.S. recently designated the Cartel de los Soles, which Maduro is accused of leading, as a foreign terrorist organization. Maduro rejects the allegations. Trump on Saturday declared Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety,” prompting Maduro’s government to accuse Washington of making a colonial threat. The move energized ruling party supporters, who rallied against what they called an attack on national sovereignty. U.S. forces have already bombed boats accused of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing more than 80 people. The strikes increased fears of an operation aimed at removing Maduro. Two weeks after the first boat attack, U.S. officials tried to recruit Maduro’s pilot in a plot to capture the president. The pilot refused, calling Venezuelans loyal and unwilling to betray their leader. On Tuesday, supporters marched in Caracas to demonstrate Chavismo’s “anti-imperialist spirit.” At the end of the rally, Maduro lifted a jeweled sword once owned by independence hero Simón Bolívar and led his Cabinet in a public oath to defend peace and freedom. Susan Shirk, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, said authoritarian leaders depend on shows of unity to prevent divisions that could encourage protests. She said any sign of fragmentation could embolden the public to rise up. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new terrorist designation gives Trump more options against Maduro, though he did not specify them. Analysts say Washington doubts any acceptable outcome includes Maduro staying in power. David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at Tulane University, said people misunderstand how Chavismo works if they believe military pressure will topple Maduro. He said force only strengthens the ruling movement and that no officer would trust the U.S. after being labeled part of a drug cartel. Maduro’s rule has coincided with deep political and economic crises that pushed millions into poverty and forced more than 7.7 million people to leave the country. Support for the ruling party has dropped sharply, but Maduro maintains a core base using long-standing tactics, including orchestrated marches. Zenaida Quintero, a 60-year-old school porter, said she remembers the food shortages of the late 2010s but remains loyal because Chávez handpicked Maduro to lead the revolution. She believes he will stand by his supporters. “I trust him,” Quintero said. “We have to remain united. We have to defend ourselves.”    

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon while his corruption trial is still underway, a move that drew heavy criticism from opposition leaders and watchdog groups on Sunday, even as some Israelis voiced support and called for the country to move forward. The president’s office described the request as extraordinary and said it carries serious implications for Israel’s justice system and Netanyahu’s political future. Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three cases involving alleged favors to wealthy associates, including a telecom executive, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher. The indictments were filed in 2019 after lengthy investigations, and the trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu denies all allegations and says he is the victim of a politically motivated campaign by the media, police and judiciary. He has not been convicted of any charges. His testimony has been postponed several times, with Netanyahu citing diplomatic engagements and security concerns during Israel’s recent conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Earlier delays were caused by prolonged political deadlock before Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022. Critics, including some families of Israelis held in Gaza, have accused him of prolonging the war for political survival. Netanyahu said his request for a pardon would help calm political tensions and promote national unity at a moment of major regional upheaval. He said closing the case now would allow Israel to move toward reconciliation. Several ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, voiced support for him. His request follows public appeals by U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu during a recent speech in Jerusalem. Trump later sent a letter to Herzog calling the prosecution politically motivated. Netanyahu referenced Trump’s appeal in his Sunday statement. Herzog and Netanyahu were once political rivals but now maintain a stable working relationship. Herzog has previously indicated that a negotiated settlement between prosecutors and Netanyahu’s legal team would be the best way to resolve the long-running legal battle. Opposition leaders said granting a pardon now would damage Israel’s democratic institutions and suggest that powerful figures are above the law. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Netanyahu’s request lacked any acceptance of responsibility and could send a dangerous signal about public norms. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu cannot receive a pardon without admitting guilt, expressing remorse and immediately retiring from political life. Legal experts said the request does not halt the trial. Only the attorney general can pause proceedings, said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Justice Ministry. The request will be reviewed by the Justice Ministry and then by legal advisers in the president’s office. The president has wide discretion to grant a pardon, but such decisions typically come only after legal proceedings end. Experts say pre-conviction pardons are extremely rare and could undermine the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law. The Israel Democracy Institute said earlier this month that granting a pardon during ongoing proceedings would pose a serious threat to the country’s justice system.    

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called on Lebanon’s political leaders to rise above division and work as genuine peacemakers, as he brought a message of hope to a country struggling with economic hardship, political deadlock and fears of renewed conflict with Israel. Leo arrived in Beirut from Istanbul on the second leg of his first papal trip. He said he wanted to encourage the Lebanese people at a fragile moment and support the country’s Christian community, one of the most important in the Middle East. The visit fulfilled a plan long held by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had hoped to travel to Lebanon but was unable to do so because of the country’s crises and his own declining health. Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system has long produced long political vacuums and repeated stalemates, including disputes over the stalled probe into the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion. The country is also sharply divided over calls for Hezbollah to disarm after its war with Israel last year left widespread destruction. Leo did not mention Hezbollah or the conflict directly in his address at the presidential palace, but he referred to the country’s suffering. “You have suffered greatly from the consequences of an economy that kills, from global instability and from the radicalization of identities and conflicts,” he said. “But you have always known how to start again.” He urged Lebanon’s leaders to seek the truth, listen to those who have suffered injustice and put the common good above personal or political interest. The pope’s highest-profile moment will come Tuesday when he prays silently at the site of the Aug 4, 2020, port explosion, which killed more than 200 people and caused massive damage. Many Lebanese said his presence alone was meaningful. “It shows that Lebanon is not forgotten,” said Bishop George, head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut. Security was tight throughout the visit. After landing in Beirut with a Lebanese military escort, the pope was greeted by President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. He traveled through the city in a closed popemobile as troops lined the streets and a helicopter monitored from above. His convoy entered the palace grounds as dancers performed dabke under heavy rain. In Turkey, Leo marked a major Christian anniversary. In Lebanon, he focused on offering hope to citizens who feel abandoned by political leaders and encouraged Christians to remain in their homeland or return if they have left. Lebanon, a Muslim-majority country with a large Christian population, has long been a priority for the Vatican as Christian communities in the region continue to shrink. “Much good can come” from the Lebanese diaspora, Leo said, but he stressed that staying and working for peace at home remained vital. President Aoun said Christians would not leave the country. “Your Holiness, tell the world that we will not die. We will not leave, we will not despair and we will not surrender,” he said. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire last year, Israel continues to launch near-daily airstrikes, saying they target Hezbollah. More than 4,000 people were killed in Lebanon during the war and large areas were devastated. “The pope is coming for the sake of peace,” said Beirut resident Farah Saadeh. “We hope nothing happens after he leaves.” Before Leo arrived, Hezbollah urged him to denounce what it called Israeli aggression. The group also told its supporters to line the pope’s route, and hundreds did so, waving Lebanese and Vatican flags. Mounir Younes, head of a Hezbollah-linked scout group, said they wanted to show the value of coexistence. “Muslim-Christian coexistence is a great wealth that we must hold onto,” he said. Hezbollah has alliances with several Christian parties, though the Lebanese Forces, the largest Christian bloc, opposes the group and blames it for dragging the country into war. Lebanon remains deeply split over calls for Hezbollah to give up its weapons. Around 300 Christians from Syria traveled to Beirut to attend the pope’s meeting with young people and a public Mass on the waterfront. Syrian Christian communities have dwindled during 14 years of civil war. “We need someone like the pope to give us hope,” said 24-year-old Dima Awwad, who came with the delegation. She said many hoped the pope would one day visit Syria as he did Lebanon.  

Kyrgyzstan held a snap parliamentary election on Sunday as authorities continued arresting opposition figures and shutting down independent media, actions that critics say have strengthened President Sadyr Zhaparov’s control over the country. Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. and closed 12 hours later, though some stations abroad will remain open until Monday. Local media said final results are expected within two weeks. The vote was moved up by a year after officials argued it would otherwise fall too close to the 2027 presidential election. The election is being held under a revised system in which 30 constituencies each elect three lawmakers. The Central Election Commission said 467 candidates are competing for 90 seats in the Jogorku Kenesh. A gender quota requires at least one female lawmaker from each district. Analysts say candidates loyal to Zhaparov are likely to dominate, helped by Kyrgyzstan’s fast growing economy and its role in helping Russia bypass sanctions. Kyrgyzstan remains closely aligned with Moscow and hosts a Russian air base. In the week before the vote, authorities detained at least 10 opposition figures and carried out searches and interrogations. Officials accuse them of calling for mass unrest. Zhaparov, who took power after unrest toppled the previous government in 2020, said in a preelection address that there would be no more coups. Some of those targeted are allies of former President Almazbek Atambayev, who now lives in Spain. His son was detained and his wife was summoned for questioning. Independent media outlets have also been under heavy pressure. In late October, a court declared Kloop, Temirov Live and AitAit Dese extremist organizations, blocking their websites and banning activity connected to their leadership. The ruling followed a new media law that requires all outlets to register with the authorities. Human Rights Watch said the government has intimidated journalists and restricted access to information. Despite U.S. concerns about human rights in Kyrgyzstan, President Donald Trump hosted leaders of five Central Asian states, including Zhaparov, at the White House in November to discuss access to the region’s mineral resources. Kyrgyzstan’s economy has grown for four straight years. Official figures show GDP increased 10 percent from January to September, a trend that analysts say has helped the government avoid public unrest. Experts view Sunday’s parliamentary vote as a rehearsal for the January 2027 presidential election. They say full control of parliament would give Zhaparov a strong advantage as he prepares for his next campaign.