United News of Bangladesh

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated a resounding hat-trick victory in the Haryana assembly elections, they did not miss the opportunity to take a sweet jibe at their political opponent, the Indian National Congress. In an unexpected move, the BJP’s Haryana unit placed an online order for 1 kilogram of jalebi – a popular Indian dessert – for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, to be delivered to the party’s headquarters in Delhi. The jalebi, costing approximately Rs 609 including taxes, was ordered from the Bikanervala store in Delhi’s Connaught Place. The recipient address was listed as 24, Akbar Road, New Delhi, the Congress party headquarters. Interestingly, the recipient’s name was cheekily marked as "Jalebi for Rahul Gandhi." As if that were not enough, the order was placed on a cash-on-delivery basis, adding another layer of jest to the gesture. As India’s election nears, Bollywood can be seen embracing the BJP's political ideology The selection of jalebi as a symbolic gift was not arbitrary. During a recent campaign stop in Guhana, Haryana, Rahul Gandhi sampled jalebi from a local shop and remarked that the sweet should be produced on an industrial scale, making it available not only throughout India but also to global consumers. The comment was met with ridicule from the BJP, who pointed out that "jalebi factories do not exist." As a result, jalebi started trending on social media as a topic of political satire. On the day of the election results, as it became clear that the BJP was set to retain power for a third consecutive term in Haryana, several party leaders seized upon the jalebi reference to troll the Congress. Celebrations were in full swing, with Rajasthan Chief Minister and BJP leader Bhajanlal Sharma even taking up a ladle to fry some jalebis himself. The BJP’s sweet gesture of sending jalebi to Rahul Gandhi’s doorstep not only underscored their electoral triumph but also served as a reminder of the political banter exchanged during the campaign. Source: Agencies

North Korea said Wednesday it will permanently block its border with South Korea and build frontline defense structures to cope with “confrontational hysteria" by South Korean and U.S. forces, while not announcing an expected constitutional revision to formally designate South Korea its principal enemy and codify new national borders. While the moves were likely a pressure tactic, it's unclear how they will affect ties with South Korea since cross-border travel and exchanges have been halted for years. North Korea's military said it will “completely cut off roads and railways ” linked to South Korea and “fortify the relevant areas of our side with strong defense structures,” according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. The North's military called its steps a “self-defensive measure for inhibiting war and defending the security” of North Korea. It said that “the hostile forces are getting ever more reckless in their confrontational hysteria.” It cited what it called various war exercises in South Korea, the deployment of U.S. strategic assets and its rivals' harsh rhetoric. South Korea’s military said later Wednesday that it won’t tolerate any attempt by North Korea to change the status quo. It said South Korea will “overwhelmingly punish” North Korea if it launches provocations. A South Korean military statement said North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have threatened peace on the Korean Peninsula. South Korean officials earlier said North Korea had already been adding anti-tank barriers and reinforcing roads on its side of the border since April in a likely attempt to boost its front-line security posture and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea. In a report to parliament on Tuesday, South Korea's Unification Ministry said that North Korea has been removing ties on the northern side of cross-border railways and nearby lamps and planting mines along the border. KCNA earlier Wednesday said the Supreme People’s Assembly met for two days this week to amend the legal ages of North Koreans for working and participating in elections. But it didn't say whether the meeting dealt with leader Kim Jong Un's order in January to rewrite the constitution to remove the goal of a peaceful Korean unification, formally designate South Korea as the country’s “invariable principal enemy” and define the North’s sovereign, territorial sphere. At the center of outside attention was whether North Korea makes new legal claims on the waters currently controlled by South Korea off their west coast. The poorly marked western sea boundary is where three bloody naval skirmishes and two deadly attacks blamed on North Korea happened in the past 25 years. Some experts say North Korea might have delayed the constitutional revision but others speculated it amended the constitution without announcing it because of its sensitivity. Kim's order stunned many North Korea watchers because it was seen as breaking away with his predecessors' long-cherished dreams of achieving a unified Korea on the North's terms. Experts say Kim likely aims to diminish South Korea’s voice in the regional nuclear standoff and seek direct dealings with the U.S. They say Kim also likely hopes to diminish South Korean cultural influence and bolster his rule at home. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years, with North Korea continuing a run of provocative weapons tests and South Korea and the U.S. expanding their military drills. KCNA said North Korea on Tuesday tested a long-range artillery system that observers say pose a direct threat to Seoul, the South Korean capital, which is only an hour’s drive from the border.

Although Iran is prone to earthquakes, a recent tremor on October 5 has sparked speculation that Iran may have carried out a nuclear test. Due to the location and time of the seismic activity, many connected it to Iran's nuclear program and questioned whether the Islamic nation was on the verge of developing its own nuclear weapon. Testing nuclear capabilities, however, does not guarantee that a nation will have a working nuclear bomb in a matter of weeks. Read: Iran also threatens 'vast destruction' as Netanyahu vows retaliation At 10:45 a.m., Aradan County in Semnan Province had an earthquake with a Richter scale value of 4.4, according to Mehr News Agency. According to the University of Tehran's Institute of Geophysics, the earthquake occurred 12 kilometers below the surface. Since then, some people have implied that the earthquake. Read more: Iran fires at least 180 missiles into Israel as regionwide conflict grows

India has pledged significant financial assistance to the Maldives to help stabilize its faltering economy, marking a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two South Asian nations that has experienced turbulence in recent times. The agreement was announced after extensive discussions between Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the former’s five-day visit to India. The visit comes amid growing concerns over the Maldives’ economic crisis, which has seen its foreign exchange reserves dwindle to dangerous levels. As part of the package, India will provide a $400 million currency swap arrangement, along with an additional 30 billion rupees (approximately $357 million) in another swap deal. These arrangements will allow Maldivian businesses to conduct trade using local currencies, reducing reliance on the US dollar, according to a report by the BBC. Resetting Relations After Strained Ties  Muizzu’s visit comes after months of strained relations. Upon his arrival, he received a warm reception, with Modi describing the visit as a "new chapter" in India-Maldives relations. "India will always be there for the progress and prosperity of the people of Maldives," Modi said. This marks a notable improvement in relations since Muizzu took office in November 2023, a period during which ties had noticeably soured. Muizzu’s decision to visit Turkey and China in the months following his election was perceived as a diplomatic snub to India, breaking from the tradition of newly elected Maldivian leaders making Delhi their first foreign stop. Economic Crisis Forces Rapprochement  The Maldives, facing the possibility of a debt default, has seen its foreign exchange reserves drop to $440 million—barely enough to cover six weeks of imports. This financial crunch, experts believe, has forced the Muizzu administration to rebuild bridges with India. In a statement, Muizzu acknowledged India’s crucial role in alleviating the crisis, saying that the support package would be "instrumental in addressing foreign exchange issues." Prior to his meeting with Modi, Muizzu told the BBC that India remains aware of the Maldives' fiscal situation. "India is fully cognizant of our fiscal situation, and as one of our biggest development partners, will always be ready to ease our burden, find better alternatives and solutions to the challenges we face," he said. Moving Beyond Tensions  Muizzu’s comments during the visit suggest a shift from his earlier policies, which had been interpreted as an attempt to distance the Maldives from India's influence and cultivate closer ties with China. Notably, he did not address his previous anti-India rhetoric directly, but instead stressed the importance of dialogue. "We are confident that any differences can be addressed through open dialogue and mutual understanding," he said. As part of the renewed diplomatic engagement, India and the Maldives have also agreed to initiate discussions on a free trade agreement, signaling a commitment to deeper economic ties.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned again that he could use nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with South Korea and the United States, as he accused them of provoking North Korea and raising animosities on the Korean Peninsula, state media reported Tuesday. Kim has issued similar threats to use nuclear weapons preemptively numerous times, but his latest warning came as outside experts say North Korea could ramp up hostilities ahead of next month’s U.S. presidential election. In a Monday speech at a university named after him, the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense, he said that North Korea "will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities against its enemies” if they attempt to use armed forces” against North Korea, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. “The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case,” he said. Kim said North Korea’s nuclear response posture must be fully enhanced because South Korea and the United States are pushing to beef up their military alliance based on joint nuclear and strategic planning, a move that he said would increase the danger of breaking the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula. Kim apparently refers to the new South Korea-U.S. deterrence guideline that the two countries signed in July to integrate South Korean conventional capabilities with U.S. nuclear weapons to better deal with North Korea's evolving nuclear threats. South Korea has no nuclear weapons. Since adopting an aggressive nuclear doctrine in 2022, North Korea has repeatedly vowed to use nuclear weapons first if it perceives the leadership in Pyongyang as under threat. But many experts question if North Korea could really do so because its military is outgunned by the U.S. and South Korean forces. U.S. and South Korean officials have warned that an attempt by North Korea to use nuclear weapons would result in the end of the Kim government. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula deepened in recent weeks, with North Korea unveiling a facility to produce weapons-grade uranium, a nuclear ingredient, and continuing a run of missile tests. In recent responses to questions from The Associated Press, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that North Korea's disclosure of that nuclear site was likely an attempt to grab U.S. attention ahead of next month’s presidential election, and the North will likely stage major provocations like a nuclear test explosion and a long-range missile test. Many analysts say North Korea will likely leverage its enlarged nuclear arsenal for U.S. concessions like sanctions relief after a new U.S. administration is inaugurated. North Korea earlier said its rubber-stamp parliament was to meet on Oct. 7. But as of Tuesday, state media hasn't said whether the parliament meeting began as scheduled. Observers say the parliament meeting was likely meant to constitutionally declare a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula to formally reject reconciliation with South Korea and codify new national borders. In January, Kim ordered the rewriting of the constitution to remove the long-running state goal of a peaceful Korean unification and cement South Korea as an “invariable principal enemy.” All exchange and cooperation programs between the two Koreas remain dormant since a broader U.S.-North Korea diplomacy on the North's nuclear program collapsed in 2019. Since late May, North Korea has floated thousands of trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea, reviving a Cold War-style psychological campaign. On Tuesday, South Korea's military said North Korea was again launching such balloons across the border.

India stepped up its development assistance to the Maldives after the two leaders held talks in New Delhi on Monday in a bid to repair strained ties that saw the president of the Indian Ocean archipelago forging closer relations with China. After the talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will offer financial support to the cash-strapped Maldives in form of a $100-million treasury bills rollover. The countries also signed a $400-million currency swap agreement. The two leaders virtually inaugurated a new international airport in the Maldives, and Modi announced that work will be accelerated on the India-assisted Greater Male Connectivity Project, which aims to link key islands of the Maldives through modern transport networks. “India is Maldives’ nearest neighbour and a close friend,” Modi said during a joint news conference. He said the Maldives held an important position in India's “neighbourhood first policy.” Tensions between India and the Maldives have grown since President Mohamed Muizzu, who favors closer ties with China, was elected last year after defeating India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Leading up to the election, Muizzu had promised to expel Indian soldiers deployed in the Maldives to help with humanitarian assistance. In May, New Delhi replaced dozens of its soldiers with civilian experts. In January, Maldivian leaders lashed out at Modi for promoting India’s Lakshadweep archipelago for Indian travelers. Lakshadweep is off the southwestern coast of the Indian mainland. Maldivians saw the move as a way to lure Indian tourists away from their country. It sparked angry protests from Indian celebrities who called for a tourism boycott to the Maldives. Tourism is the mainstay of the Maldives’ economy. The dispute deepened when Muizzu visited China ahead of India in January, a move seen by New Delhi as a snub. On his return, Muizzu spelled out plans to rid his tiny nation of dependence on India for health facilities, medicines and import of staples. A thaw ensued after Muizzu attended Modi’s June swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi for a third five-year term. Since then, Muizzu has toned down his anti-Indian rhetoric, and official-level contacts have intensified with New Delhi as concerns rose that the Maldives could be staring at an economic crisis. “India is a key partner in the socio-economic and infrastructure development of the Maldives and has stood by the Maldives during our times of need,” Muizzu said after the meeting. He said the currency swap agreement “will be instrumental in addressing the foreign exchange issues we are facing right now.” Muizzu will also hold meetings with senior Indian officials during his five-day visit. Regional powers India and China compete for influence in the archipelago nation, which is strategically located in the Indian Ocean. For decades, India has been a critical provider of development assistance to the Maldives. Meanwhile, the Maldives joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative to build ports and highways and expand trade as well as China’s influence across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Muizzu’s visit is essential for Modi, who is facing a challenging time in neighborhood diplomacy with Marxist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake taking over as Sri Lanka’s president and India-friendly Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India in August after being forced to resign by students-led protests. Nepal also elected pro-China K.P. Sharma Oli as its prime minister.

An explosion at a coal mine in India’s West Bengal claimed the lives of at least seven workers on Monday morning.The blast, which occurred at the Gangaramchak Mining Private Limited (GMPL) colliery in Birbhum's Bhadulia village, left several others injured and sparked widespread unrest in the local area, reports Anandabazar Patrika.The explosion occurred while workers were breaking coal inside the mine. Local sources reported that the bodies of the victims were severely mutilated due to the intensity of the blast. Rescue operations are still underway to retrieve any remaining trapped workers, and the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, it said.Primary investigations suggested that the explosion may have been caused by negligence during the blasting process used for coal extraction. It is believed that explosives were overloaded onto a single truck, a deviation from the usual practice of using two trucks for transport. This has raised questions about safety lapses at the mine.As news of the accident spread, senior officials and personnel from GMPL reportedly fled the scene. The police arrived shortly after and began their investigation. However, local residents, angered by the tragedy, have gathered at the site, blocking authorities from removing the bodies. Tension has escalated across the coal mine area, with large crowds expressing outrage over the incident, added the report.

The Nobel prizes award season begins Monday with the announcement by a panel at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm of the winner of this year's medicine award. Last year, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Hungarian-American Katalin Karikó and American Drew Weissman for discoveries that enabled the creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 that were critical in slowing the pandemic. The medicine prize has been awarded 114 times to a total of 227 laureates — the title given to winners. Only 13 women have won been awarded the prize that carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) from a bequest left by the prize’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. The laureates are invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death. Nobel announcements continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday and the economics award on Oct. 14.

A massive blast outside Karachi Airport in Pakistan on Sunday killed two workers from China and injured at least eight, officials from both countries said. Police and the provincial government said a tanker exploded outside the airport, which is Pakistan’s biggest. A Chinese Embassy statement said that a convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited had been attacked around 11 p.m., killing two Chinese and injuring one other. It said there were Pakistani casualties as well. The provincial home minister, Zia Ul Hassan, told local TV station Geo that the explosion was an attack targeting foreigners. Thousands of Chinese workers are in Pakistan, most of them involved in Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative that connects south and central Asia with the Chinese capital. Videos showed flames engulfing cars and a thick column of smoke rising from the scene. There was a heavy military deployment at the site, which was cordoned off. Read: Militants kill six Pakistani soldiers during a shootout in the country's northwest The Chinese statement called the explosion a “terrorist attack” and said that China is working with Pakistan to handle the aftermath. It called for a thorough investigation to punish the perpetrators and reminded Chinese citizens in the country to take safety precautions. “The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack (and) express deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries,” the statement said. Deputy Inspector General East Azfar Mahesar told media that it seemed like it was an oil tanker explosion. “We are determining the nature and reasons for the blast. It takes time." Police officers were among the injured, he added. Read more: Pakistani security forces kill 6 insurgents in a raid in the southwest The home minister and inspector general also visited the blast site, but they did not talk to the media. Rahat Hussain, who works in the civil aviation department, said the blast was so big that it shook the airport’s buildings.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, along with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, arrived in India on Sunday for a significant state visit to improve diplomatic relations between the two nations. Muizzu arrived at the Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi around 4:30 PM, reports Hindustan Times. He is scheduled to meet with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other senior officials throughout this visit. This visit indicates a potential thaw in previously strained ties as the Maldives seeks to balance its foreign policy between regional powers India and China. Muizzu's ascent to power in 2023 was fueled by an “India Out” campaign advocating for the removal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. He had raised concerns about foreign troops operating in the strategically significant Indian Ocean archipelago. Bangladesh and Maldives seek enhanced trade, investment, tourism ties However, the aircraft remains in the country and is being operated by a civilian Indian crew. In recent months, the relationship has shown signs of improvement, with both nations taking steps to close the diplomatic gap. In May, Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer visited India, followed by Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar's trip to the Maldives in August. Besides, India assisted the Maldives in avoiding a potential default on Islamic bond payments by extending the subscription of treasury bills worth $50 million for another year, highlighting India’s commitment to supporting its maritime neighbor. Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China stance, has recently tried to navigate a delicate balance by softening his rhetoric against India while maintaining strategic ties with Beijing. During a visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly last month, he emphasized that the Maldives' concerns were specifically about the presence of foreign military personnel rather than directed at any particular nation. To ease tensions with New Delhi, Muizzu has taken action against government members who made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi on social media. Two junior ministers who were suspended in January for their comments ultimately resigned from their positions last month, signaling a shift in Muizzu’s approach toward India.