United News of Bangladesh

Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron held friendly exchanges on Friday in Dujiangyan, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, highlighting the longstanding cultural and diplomatic ties between the two nations. Upon arrival, Macron and his wife Brigitte were warmly welcomed by Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. Xi recalled his visit to France’s Hautes-Pyrenees last year and expressed hope that Macron’s visit would deepen his understanding of China. The leaders strolled along Yangong Path and later held discussions at Huaigu Pavilion while enjoying tea by the waterside. Xi praised the Dujiangyan irrigation system, emphasizing it as a symbol of the Chinese nation’s ingenuity, resilience, and harmonious approach to human-nature interaction. Macron hailed the over two-millennia-old system as a testament to China’s industriousness and wisdom. Xi and Macron discussed global affairs, noting the cultural depth and shared aspirations of both nations. Xi stressed that national prosperity requires both material and cultural development, highlighting China’s continuous civilizational achievements in unity, innovation, and inclusiveness. He also noted that China and France, as representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, share a spirit of independence rooted in cultural heritage. Macron emphasized France’s willingness to strengthen dialogue, coordination, and cooperation with China to address global conflicts, promote peace, and ensure stability amid an uncertain international landscape. The two leaders agreed to maintain close communication to further the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership. During the visit, the countries issued joint statements on enhancing global governance, responding to climate and environmental challenges, promoting peaceful nuclear cooperation, advancing agricultural and food exchanges, and discussing situations in Ukraine and Palestine. President Xi and Madam Peng later hosted Macron and his wife for lunch, reinforcing the warm and cooperative atmosphere of the visit.  

Major airports across India descended into chaos Friday as IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, cancelled numerous flights due to newly enforced rules limiting working hours for pilots and crew. Passengers faced long queues at customer service counters, slept on airport floors, and struggled with minimal information from the airline. The disruptions mark the fourth consecutive day of operational turmoil for the low-cost carrier, which operates around 2,300 flights daily and holds nearly 65% of India’s domestic aviation market. The regulations, implemented in two phases since July, mandate longer rest periods and restrict night flying to reduce fatigue and improve safety. IndiGo has struggled to adjust crew schedules, leading to widespread cancellations. On Thursday alone, over 300 flights were grounded, with hundreds more delayed. Passengers expressed frustration, with senior citizen Sajal Bose saying he would take a nine-hour train ride to reach New Delhi after his flight from Kolkata was cancelled. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers acknowledged disruptions, citing technology issues, schedule changes, weather, congestion, and new regulations. The Civil Aviation Ministry said planning gaps and misjudgment contributed to the problem. IndiGo has requested temporary exemptions and expects operations to be fully restored by Feb. 10, though some cancellations may continue in the coming weeks. Source: AP 

Iran launched a series of powerful missiles in the Sea of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Friday during the second day of a naval drill, state television reported. According to the report, the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired the missiles from mainland Iran, striking targets in the Oman Sea and adjacent areas near the Strait of Hormuz. The missiles identified included cruise missiles Qadr-110, Qadr-380, and Ghadir, with ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), along with a ballistic missile designated 303. Footage broadcast on state TV showed the launches and their impact on targets. This is the second drill of its kind since the Israel-Iran conflict in June, which killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, and claimed 28 lives in Israel due to Iranian missile strikes. Iran rejects UN Atomic Agency Resolution, warns of retaliatory measures Iran has repeatedly stated its readiness to counter any future Israeli attack. The Revolutionary Guard, responsible for Persian Gulf operations and the Strait of Hormuz, carried out the exercise, while Iran’s regular navy oversees the Sea of Oman and beyond. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global oil chokepoint, handling 20% of worldwide crude shipments. The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet has long patrolled the region to ensure maritime passage remains open. Source: AP 

Hong Kong is holding legislative elections Sunday as the city grapples with the deadliest fire in decades, which killed at least 159 people and raised questions about government oversight and building safety. The vote for the 90-member Legislative Council comes amid a political landscape tightly controlled under Beijing’s “patriots-only” governance system. The election follows a 2021 overhaul that reduced directly elected seats from 35 to 20, with the rest chosen by a pro-Beijing election committee and industry-based panels. All candidates must pass official vetting, including by national security authorities. Pro-democracy politicians have been completely excluded following arrests under the 2020 national security law. The candidate pool includes more individuals with ties to mainland Chinese businesses and government bodies, reflecting Beijing’s emphasis on loyalty and alignment with its national agenda. Observers note the changes signal tighter control and a preference for candidates focused on national rather than local interests. Hong Kong leader orders independent probe after deadly high-rise fire Voter turnout will be closely watched. Political apathy has grown since 2021, and the recent fire may further dampen participation despite government efforts to facilitate voting through extended hours, additional polling stations, and subsidies. Experts suggest turnout could remain low, reflecting public concerns over systemic governance issues exposed by the tragedy. City leader John Lee defended the election, calling personnel changes normal and dismissing accusations of interference, while candidates emphasized their dual roles in public service and work in Chinese-linked enterprises. Source: AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties on the second day of his state visit. The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the United States pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. They will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on. Putin was received by Modi at an airport in New Delhi on Thursday, who gave the visting leader a bear hug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend. According to Indian officials involved in the preparation for the summit, the agenda includes talks on defense, energy and labor mobility. While India has historically maintained deep ties with Russia, critics say Putin’s visit could strain relations with the European Union and the United States and might jeopardize negotiations for major trade agreements with both that are seen as critical for India’s exports. U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in August, citing New Delhi's discounted Russian oil. India has been the second biggest importer of Russian crude after China. The U.S. says purchases of Russian oil help finance Moscow’s war machine. In October, U.S. sanctioned two of Moscow’s biggest oil producers to force countries like India to cut down on imports. Indian officials have said New Delhi has always abided by international sanctions and would do so in the case of Russia oil purchases as well. India and the U.S. set a target for the first tranche of a trade deal by the fall, but the deal hasn’t come through yet amid strains in relations. India is also in the final stages of talks on a trade agreement with the EU, which sees Russia's war in Ukraine as a major threat. In his meeting with Putin, Modi is likely to push for faster delivery of two further more Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. It has already received three under a 2018 deal worth about $5.4 billion. The delay has been tied to supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine. The two sides signed a pact in February to improve military cooperation, exercises, port calls, disaster relief assistance and logistics support. Moscow’s State Duma ratified the same ahead of Putin’s India visit. Talks are also expected on upgrading India’s Russian-made Su-30MKI fighter jets and accelerating deliveries of critical military hardware. Trade is also expected to be a major point in talks. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $68.7 billion in the last fiscal year ended March, while the aim is to boost it to $100 billion by 2030. The trade is heavily skewed in favor of Russia with deep deficits for India, which it is looking to bridge by pushing exports. India is keen to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles to Russia and is seeking the removal of non-tariff barriers. New Delhi is also seeking long-term supplies of fertilizers from Moscow. Another key area where the two countries are expected to finalize an agreement is the safety and regulation of migration of Indian skilled workers to Russia. Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

A stunning  photograph taken from orbit has gone viral online, revealing Mecca’s Kaaba glowing like a luminous point from 400 kilometers above Earth. The image, captured from the International Space Station (ISS), highlights Islam’s holiest site as a radiant center within the city.  Nasa astronaut Don Pettit, who has just returned from his ISS mission, posted the photo on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: “Orbital views of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The bright spot in the center is the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, visible even from space”. Pettit, known for his artistic approach to space imagery during his fourth stint on the station, shot the picture using a high-resolution Nikon camera through the ISS cupola window.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday released 11 mariners held since a July attack on the ship Eternity C in the Red Sea, an assault that killed four on board and sank the vessel. The Iranian-backed Houthis, who have been targeting ships during the Israel-Hamas war, said via their al-Masirah satellite news channel that Oman had taken custody of the mariners, who were flying to the sultanate. Oman later said it received the 11 mariners — who are from India and the Philippines — “in preparation for their return to their home countries.” However, the Houthis later released images of only 10 mariners. It wasn't clear why the 11th releasee wasn't shown. A Royal Oman Air Force jet landed earlier Wednesday in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital held for over a decade by the rebels, according to flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press. Following the Houthi announcement, the plane was tracked leaving Yemeni airspace. Oman later published images of the men being greeted on arrival in Muscat, the sultanate's capital, by Filipino and Indian diplomats. The Philippines said Tuesday it expected nine Filipino mariners held by the Houthis since the attack to be released. The Foreign Ministry in Manila described the mariners as being “held hostage by the Houthis” since the attack, something the U.S. government also had said earlier. The Houthis offered no immediate breakdown on the nationalities of those released. It had described their forces as rescuing the men after they abandoned the crippled ship following the attack. It contended the men spent "five months spent as guests, not detainees.” The Houthis have targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones in their campaign, sinking four vessels. The attacks have killed at least nine mariners, after a crew member aboard one vessel targeted, the Minervagracht, died of his wounds in October. The Houthis have held mariners for months in the past, and it wasn’t immediately clear why they released the mariners now. The Houthis stopped their attacks during a brief, earlier ceasefire in the war in Gaza. They later became the target of a weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump before he declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels. The current ceasefire in the war has again seen the Houthis hold their fire. Meanwhile, the future of talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s battered nuclear program is in question after Israel launched a 12-day war against the Islamic Republic in June that saw the U.S. bomb three Iranian atomic sites.

The deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades is piling pressure on Beijing’s “patriots-only” governance system, casting a shadow on elections widely seen as a further step to tighten control over the city's legislature. Sunday's vote to elect new lawmakers to Hong Kong's 90-member Legislative Council comes just 11 days after a massive fire engulfed seven towers in a high-rise apartment complex, killing at least 159 people in the financial hub's worst blaze since 1948. With many voters in the city grown politically apathetic since China’s crackdown shut out the pro-democracy camp in recent years, Sunday's turnout rate will be a key barometer of public sentiment toward the government and its handling of the fire. While there hasn’t yet been significant public protests because of the chilling effect of a wide-ranging security crackdown that started five years ago, some residents have raised concerns among friends, on social media and to reporters about government oversight in building maintenance projects and official investigation efforts. Nearly 40% of incumbents, including household names and mildly vocal politicians, are stepping aside for this election. More candidates with mainland Chinese business links, as well as more members of China’s parliament, are joining the race. Observers suggest the candidate lineup signals Beijing’s tightening control over even its loyalists and a preference for politicians more in tune with its agenda. A change of guard Starting in late September, many veteran lawmakers announced one by one that they would not seek reelection. Regina Ip, a leading member of Hong Kong’s cabinet, said she wanted to pass the torch to the younger generation and denied that age was a factor. Several relatively outspoken lawmakers also stepped aside. One of them, Doreen Kong, insisted she faced no pressure to bow out. The changes drew wide attention to the legislature, now filled with Beijing loyalists after China overhauled electoral rules in 2021. Under the rules, the number of directly elected seats was reduced from 35 to 20. Forty other seats are chosen by a predominantly pro-Beijing election committee, with voters in professional, business and other designated sectors picking another 30 for their industries. All candidates must pass official vetting, including by national security authorities. Pro-democracy politicians in the legislature have completely disappeared after many were arrested under a 2020 national security law Beijing imposed to quell the massive protests that started in 2019. The pro-Beijing camp praised the new model’s efficiency, but Hong Kong think tank POD Research Institute in September said its survey showed growing public concerns about the quality of debate in the legislature. More candidates with mainland Chinese ties The new candidate pool marks a deeper change. The Associated Press found that at least 26 of 161 candidates, or 16%, held positions in Chinese-funded businesses without declaring party affiliations — almost double the figure reported by local newspaper South China Morning Post in the 2021 election. Most were connected to state-owned enterprises. Among all candidates, 16 are delegates to China's top legislature — more than double from the last election — and 13 others are members of China's top political advisory body. The directly-elected seats drew more candidates than four years ago, including district councilors handling municipal matters. Still, many of those new candidates are not familiar names to voters. John Burns, an honorary professor of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, said the central government has “very much controlled” the city's elections since 2021. Burns said it appears that the central authorities have a new informal criterion on an upper age limit and possibly less appetite for outspoken lawmakers. He said members of China's legislature and political advisory body are more in tune with Beijing's agenda, while those who work for state-owned enterprises are under more control by the central authorities, in addition to having better resources for their roles. “They’re trying to ensure that the new people adopt a national perspective, national agenda ... and not focus on sectional interests, not focus on vested interests, and not perhaps representing the concerns of people in Hong Kong,” he said. He added that central authorities also appeared to be trying to minimize the influence of traditional political parties. Other new faces joining the race include Olympic fencing champion Vivian Kong, who has faced questions over her eligibility to run in the tourism sector. She cleared the official vetting process in November after citing her efforts to promote horse racing tourism. Candidates defend dual roles Hong Kong leader John Lee maintained that personnel changes in the election are normal during a change of term, and condemned attempts by “opposing forces” to smear the election with accusations of interference. He added it’s justifiable for Beijing to care about the election. Incumbent finance lawmaker Ronick Chan, an adviser at Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, whose parent company is a state-owned commercial bank, said working in Chinese-funded enterprises does not conflict with serving as a legislator. “Employees of Chinese-funded enterprises frequently engage with national policies in their daily work," he said in a text message. “That helps Hong Kong better understand the central government’s concerns and facilitates the city's service to and integration into national development.” His rival Ip Tsz-kin, who works in the Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) — also affiliated with another state-owned bank — told the SCMP that candidates must work for Hong Kong's future development regardless of their company background. He did not reply to the AP’s request for comment. During an election candidate forum, candidate Rex Lai said patriot organizations can mobilize volunteers to support relief efforts in a disaster. In November, China’s Hong Kong affairs office said the pool of new candidates will boost the development of “high-quality democracy” that suits Hong Kong. It said the legislature needs new blood, and that the participation of professional elites from new sectors, innovation industries and think tanks, among other areas, signals hopes for better alignment with China’s next five-year plan. Push for turnout could be dampened by fire aftermath Voter turnout rate in the 2021 election had dropped to 30.2%, a record low. Officials have been pulling out all the stops to boost that figure until the fire brought a temporary halt. Burns noted that about 60% of the popular vote went to the pro-democracy camp in past elections before 2021. He believed those voters would continue to stay away from Sunday's election. He said that while some pro-government voters would be grateful for the authorities' response to the fire, others could have reservations about voting due to the systemic problems uncovered by the fire and the huge death toll. To drive up turnout, the government has extended voting hours, added voting stations and offered subsidies to centers for older adults and people with disabilities. City leader Lee urged civil servants to vote and companies provided time off for employees casting ballots. Authorities have made arrests over social media content that allegedly discouraged voting or for damaging promotional election materials. “This fire has run a truck right through that campaign,” Burns said. “That makes it very difficult for the authorities to better the thirty percent, and so probably it will be lower."

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India Thursday on a state visit aimed at bolstering bilateral and economic ties between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Russian leader at an airport in New Delhi, giving a bearhug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend. Modi will host Putin for a private dinner tonight at his decked-up official residence. On Friday, the two leaders will hold talks as part of the 23rd India-Russia Summit and discuss deepening economic cooperation, mainly in defense, energy and the mobility of skilled labor. Putin’s visit comes at a sensitive time in global politics when there is a renewed push by the U.S. on a peace deal to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end. The visit will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on. Putin last visited India in 2021. Modi was in Moscow last year, and the two leaders briefly met in September in China during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.  

President Donald Trump’s latest remarks targeting Somali immigrants sparked outrage and anxiety Wednesday in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, home to the largest Somali community in the United States. Speaking first during a Tuesday Cabinet meeting, Trump said Somalis “contribute nothing” and described them as “garbage,” adding that accepting them would send the country “the wrong way.” He intensified the criticism on Wednesday, telling reporters at an Oval Office event that “Somalians should be out of here” and that they had “destroyed our country.” He also took aim at Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, calling him a “fool,” and said he would not be “proud to have the largest Somali population” in the U.S. Hamse Warfa, a Minnesota-based Somali-born entrepreneur and head of the education nonprofit World Savvy, rejected the president’s remarks. “I am not garbage. I’m a proud American citizen,” Warfa said, noting that anti-immigrant rhetoric has repeatedly been used for political gain, pointing to past comments Trump made about Haitian migrants ahead of the 2024 election. The Twin Cities region is home to roughly 84,000 people of Somali descent — nearly one-third of the U.S. Somali population. Refugees from the East African nation have been settling in Minnesota since the 1990s, drawn by social support services and the growing diaspora community. Trump’s comments came amid reports that federal authorities are preparing a targeted immigration enforcement action in Minnesota focused on Somalis living illegally in the country, according to a person familiar with the preparations. Most Somalis in the state, however, are U.S. citizens, including many born in America. Some community leaders said they heard anecdotal accounts of detentions by federal agents, though they lacked details. Immigration officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Somalis have become an integral part of Minnesota’s civic and political landscape, contributing to local economies, opening businesses and serving in the Legislature and on city councils. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, frequently singled out by Trump — including this week, when he called her “garbage” — represents Minnesota in Congress. The community has also faced scrutiny following the arrests of dozens of people, many of them Somalis, accused of involvement in fraud schemes targeting social service agencies. While Trump has repeatedly claimed Minnesota is “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” and suggested money may have flowed to the extremist group al-Shabab, federal authorities have not charged any defendants with terrorism-related offenses, and evidence of such links remains scant. Trump’s latest remarks followed his administration’s decision to halt all asylum rulings after two National Guard soldiers were shot dead in Washington. Although the suspect is of Afghan origin, Trump questioned immigrants from other countries, including Somalia. The administration also paused immigration applications for people from 19 countries — among them Somalia — that had been under previous U.S. travel bans. Minnesota leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, pledged to support Somali residents. “Minneapolis is — and will remain — a city that stands up for our residents,” Frey said in a statement. Several Democratic legislators and Minneapolis City Council members held a news conference Wednesday urging Republican lawmakers to condemn Trump’s comments. “Where are the Republicans now?” asked state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis, who said she had invited GOP leaders to attend the briefing. Warfa said he hopes the political rhetoric recedes soon, especially as his daughter, a high school senior, prepares for college. “I would rather spend time thinking about her future,” he said, instead of hearing the president describe people like him “as garbage.”