United News of Bangladesh

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.  

President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is willing to release the results of an MRI he took in October, although he said he does not know what part of his body was scanned. Speaking to reporters while returning to Washington from Florida, Trump said the MRI results were “perfect” and that he would make them public if people wanted to see them. The White House has not explained why Trump underwent the MRI during his physical last month or what area was examined. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said the president received advanced imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as part of a routine checkup and that the results showed he remains in exceptional health. Trump said Sunday he had “no idea” which part of his body the MRI covered. He added that it was not a brain scan, saying he recently took a cognitive test and “aced it.”  

U.S. and Ukrainian officials held nearly four hours of talks in Florida on Sunday as both sides worked to shape a possible end to the Russia Ukraine war, days before a U.S. envoy is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the discussions were productive, but he noted that substantial work is still needed before any peace agreement can be reached. He said the aim is not only to stop the fighting but to ensure Ukraine’s long term stability and economic future. Rubio said progress was made, although more negotiations will be required. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is preparing for talks with Putin in Moscow in the coming days. Rubio, Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner represented the U.S. side in the Florida meeting, held at a sensitive moment as Ukraine continues resisting Russian forces while dealing with a corruption scandal at home. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had been briefed on the meeting and described Ukraine’s corruption problems as “not helpful.” He added that there is “a good chance” for a deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government is facing strong pressure after revelations that $100 million was embezzled from the energy sector through contractor kickbacks. The scandal has added to political strains for Zelenskyy. Diplomats are working on changes to a U.S. drafted peace plan that came out of earlier contacts between Washington and Moscow. Critics say the proposal favors Russian demands. At the start of Sunday’s meeting at the Shell Bay Club, a resort developed by Witkoff, Rubio said any agreement must protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and set it on a path to long term prosperity. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s security council, expressed gratitude for U.S. support and said Ukraine values Washington’s efforts. After the talks, he again thanked the United States for its backing during the nearly four year conflict, though he did not provide details about any progress. Rubio said the talks covered issues beyond ending the fighting. Trump has argued that deeper commercial ties between the U.S. and Ukraine could help deter Russian aggression in the future. The two countries signed an agreement earlier this year that gives the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Trump’s draft plan includes creating a Ukraine Development Fund to support industries such as technology, data centers and artificial intelligence. It also calls for joint work on rebuilding and operating Ukraine’s natural gas pipelines and storage systems, which Russia has repeatedly targeted. Rubio said the United States wants Ukraine to be secure from future invasions and to enter a period of lasting prosperity. He said the aim is to help Ukraine rebuild in ways that make the country stronger than before the war. Umerov has been involved in recent negotiations. Until now, Ukraine’s main negotiator had been Andrii Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, who resigned Friday after anti corruption investigators searched his home. Rubio had met Yermak in Geneva one week earlier. The Ukrainian delegation in Florida also included Andrii Hnatov, head of Ukraine’s armed forces, and presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz. An earlier 28 point U.S. framework, which Trump later described as only a draft concept, would have limited the size of Ukraine’s military, blocked NATO membership and required elections within 100 days. It also proposed that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region to Russia. Negotiators say the framework has changed, though details remain unclear. Trump said last week that Witkoff and possibly Kushner would go to Moscow to meet Putin about the plan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would meet Witkoff before Thursday, when he leaves for India. Witkoff and Kushner both come from the real estate world and were involved in a proposal that led to a ceasefire in Gaza. In his nightly address Saturday, Zelenskyy said the U.S. team was taking a constructive approach and that steps could be outlined in the coming days for what he called a “dignified end” to the war. Russian drone and missile strikes continued over the weekend despite diplomatic efforts. Attacks around Kyiv on Saturday killed at least three people and wounded dozens, authorities said. More overnight strikes into Sunday killed one person and injured 19, including four children, when a drone hit a nine story apartment building in Vyshhorod near Kyiv. Zelenskyy said Russia launched 122 strike drones and ballistic missiles on Sunday alone. He said Russia had used nearly 1,400 drones, 1,100 guided bombs and 66 missiles in the past week. He called for stronger air defense and continued cooperation with partners to achieve peace. Tensions rose further after Ukraine claimed responsibility for damaging a major oil terminal near the Russian port of Novorossiysk on Saturday. Kazakhstan, whose oil exports move through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, urged Ukraine to stop such attacks. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry said the strike harmed bilateral relations and asked Ukraine to take steps to prevent similar incidents.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country’s president to grant him a pardon from corruption charges, seeking to end a long-running trial that has bitterly divided the nation. Netanyahu, who has been at war against Israel’s legal system over the charges, said the request would help unify the country at a time of momentous change in the region. But it immediately triggered denunciations from opponents, who said a pardon would weaken democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that he's above the rule of law. Netanyahu had submitted a request for a pardon to the legal department of the Office of the President, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. The president's office called it an “extraordinary request,” carrying with it “significant implications.” Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters. He hasn't been convicted of anything. Netanyahu rejects the allegations and has described the case as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media, police and judiciary. Trump's request His request comes weeks after 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.” Herzog is a former political rival of Netanyahu, but the men have a good working relationship. Later Sunday, Israeli media reported a small protest outside Herzog’s home, including a pile of bananas with a sign saying a pardon equals a banana republic. In a videotaped statement, Netanyahu said the trial has divided the country. He also said the requirement that he appear in court three times a week is a distraction that makes it difficult for him to lead. “The continuation of the trial tears us apart from within, stirs up this division, and deepens rifts. I am sure, like many others in the nation, 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," he said. Case delays Netanyahu has taken the stand multiple times over the past year. But the case has been repeatedly delayed as he has dealt with wars and unrest stemming from the Hamas-led militant attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Netanyahu's pardon request consisted of two documents: a detailed letter signed by his lawyer and a letter signed by Netanyahu. They'll be sent to the Justice Ministry for opinions and will then be transferred to the legal adviser at the president's office, which will formulate additional opinions for the president. Legal experts say the pardon request isn't able to stop the trial. “It’s impossible,” said Emi Palmor, former director-general of the Justice Ministry. “You cannot claim that you’re innocent while the trial is going on and come to the president and ask him to intervene,” she said. The only way to stop the trial is to ask the attorney general to withhold the proceedings, she said. In rare cases, the system could pardon Netanyahu. Experts say 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 preconviction 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.” Netanyahu portrays himself as victimIn 2008, as opposition leader, Netanyahu called on then Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down as he faced a growing corruption scandal. At the time, Netanyahu said that a prime minister “up to his neck” in scandal did not have a mandate to lead the country, and there was a risk that Olmert would make decisions that served his personal interests and not those of the nation. Olmert resigned even before he was indicted that year and would later serve 16 months in prison. Netanyahu has struck a different, defiant tone since his own legal problems began. He has portrayed himself as the victim of a “deep state” conspiracy trying to oust him from office. Shortly after forming his current government in late 2022, Netanyahu launched a plan to overhaul Israel’s justice system. Netanyahu presented the plan as a much-needed reform. But his opponents accused him of trying to weaken the justice system, damaging the country’s system of checks and balances and having a conflict of interest at a time when he was on trial. The plan triggered large street protests against the government, and critics have said the deep divisions sent a message of weakness to Israel’s enemies that encouraged Hamas to launch its 2023 attacks. Netanyahu's request also sparked backlash on Sunday, with an immediate response from the opposition and advocacy groups urging the president not to give in to his request. “You cannot grant him a pardon without an admission of guilt, an expression of remorse and an immediate retirement from political life," opposition leader Yair Lapid said. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel said that granting a pardon to a prime minister accused of serious offenses of fraud and breach of trust would send a clear message that there are citizens who are above the law. But some Israelis expressed support for Netanyahu's request. “Bibi Netanyahu did totally the right thing requesting the pardon," said Lior Gal, a Jerusalem resident, referring to the prime minister by his nickname. "He deserves to be pardoned. This chapter should be over and to remain united people and carry on.”

Five people were killed when a fire swept through a home in a small eastern French town, local officials said Sunday. The Nancy prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into the incident. About 70 firefighters and 40 emergency vehicles were mobilized overnight to bring the blaze under control in Neuves-Maisons, the Meurthe-et-Moselle Prefecture told The Associated Press. A sixth person was treated for smoke inhalation but is not in critical condition. Local outlet Ici Lorraine, citing police sources, reported that the victims included a couple and three youths aged between 17 and 20 — identified as the couple’s son and two of his friends. The Prefecture said the town hall will set up an emergency medical and psychological support unit for affected residents.

Authorities in Indonesia said Sunday that some residents on the flood-ravaged island of Sumatra have begun taking food and water to survive, as Sri Lankan officials confirmed that the death toll from floods and mudslides there has climbed to 193. Nearly a week after the Indonesian floods began, at least 303 people have been killed — a figure expected to grow as more victims are found — and thousands have been forced from their homes. The flooding triggered landslides, washed out roads, isolated communities and disrupted communications across parts of the island. Rescue efforts have been slowed by harsh weather and a shortage of heavy machinery. Aid has struggled to reach the worst-affected areas, including Sibolga city and Central Tapanuli district in North Sumatra. Social media clips showed people rushing through damaged barriers, shattered glass and inundated streets in search of food, fuel and medicine, with some wading through waist-high water to reach wrecked convenience stores. Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan said incidents of looting were first reported Saturday evening, noting that local police had been deployed to restore order. “The looting happened before relief supplies arrived,” he said. “Residents didn’t realise aid was coming and feared they would go hungry.” Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said that 11 helicopters were dispatched from Jakarta the day after the disaster to deliver relief supplies, particularly to communities cut off by road, but unpredictable weather continues to disrupt the operations. Government footage showed military aircraft airdropping supplies, with survivors in North Tapanuli waving urgently toward the helicopters. Four navy vessels have also arrived at a nearby port to support the distribution of aid. Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, officials said 193 people have died in floods and landslides, while 228 remain missing. Close to 148,000 people have been driven from their homes and are currently staying in temporary shelters. Sri Lanka has faced relentless severe weather since last week, with conditions worsening on Thursday when heavy rain inundated homes, farmlands and roads and triggered landslides, particularly in the central tea-growing highlands. Meteorologists say Cyclone Ditwah, which formed in waters east of Sri Lanka, is expected to move toward India’s southern coast on Sunday.