United News of Bangladesh

Russian President Vladimir Putin was holding talks on Tuesday with the head of Myanmar’s military government, who seeks to cement cooperation with Moscow as he faces isolation and sanctions from the West. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was on his fourth trip to Russia since his army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Western nations have imposed economic and political sanctions in response to the takeover and the violent repression of opposition, which has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and given rise to an armed conflict widely seen as civil war. At the start of the Kremlin talks, Putin noted growing bilateral trade and close cooperation in the international arena, and thanked the Myanmar leader for sending six baby elephants to Moscow. Russia, along with China, is a major supporter and arms supplier to Myanmar. Russian-made fighter jets are used in attacks on territory under control of ethnic minority groups, many of them allies with pro-democracy resistance forces. Thousands await repatriation after crackdown on scam centers in Myanmar Russia defends Myanmar’s military government in international forums, and the ruling generals generally support Moscow’s foreign policy agenda. The countries have held joint military drills and signed a pact on developing nuclear power. The countries signed agreements to outline cooperation around Moscow building nuclear power plants in Myanmar and recognize academic qualifications. Ming Aung Hlaing emphasized his military government’s support for Russia’s military action in Ukraine. “Russia is a key backer of the Myanmar military,” said Morgan Michaels, a Singapore-based analyst with the International Institute of Strategic Studies. “In addition to diplomatic and symbolic support, it plays a vital role in enhancing and sustaining the regime’s warfighting capacity.” Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for Myanmar’s main opposition National Unity Government, said the military leader is in desperate need of international recognition and willing to trade the country’s resources in exchange. “So, to maintain his power, he will go to countries that will recognize him and provide him with some kind of assistance," Nay Phone Latt said Monday in a text message to the AP.

A recently declassified report suggests that China possesses significantly larger thorium reserves than previously estimated. The radioactive metal, already known to exist in abundance within China, could be the key to an almost limitless energy supply. The study, completed in 2020, indicates that China’s thorium deposits surpass earlier projections by several magnitudes. Experts believe this discovery could transform global energy production and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. A Beijing-based geologist, speaking anonymously to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), emphasized the importance of the findings. “For over a century, nations have fought wars over fossil fuels, yet a vast energy source has been right beneath our feet,” the geologist said. “Every country has thorium. Imagine cargo ships powered by compact reactors traveling for years without refueling.” Thorium, a silver-colored metal, can generate 200 times more energy than uranium. Unlike conventional uranium reactors, thorium molten-salt reactors (TMSRs) are compact, do not require water cooling, cannot melt down, and produce minimal long-lived radioactive waste. In 2023, China approved the construction of the world’s first TMSR power plant in the Gobi Desert. Expected to generate 10 megawatts of electricity, the pilot project aims to be operational by 2029. North Korea says it performed cruise missile tests, days after it vowed to respond to US threats The report also highlights the potential of thorium found in mining waste. Just five years’ worth of waste from an iron ore site in Inner Mongolia contains enough thorium to power U.S. households for over a thousand years. The Bayan Obo mining complex alone could yield around one million tonnes of thorium, potentially supplying China’s energy needs for 60,000 years. “These thorium resources in tailings remain completely untapped,” wrote the study’s lead researcher, senior engineer Fan Honghai, from the National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resource Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing in Beijing, as reported by SCMP. The national thorium survey identified 233 thorium-rich zones across China, concentrated in five key regions from inland Xinjiang to coastal Guangdong. These deposits, primarily magmatic and hydrothermal, are often found alongside rare earth elements. In provinces like Fujian and Hainan, monazite-rich coastal sands contain easily extractable thorium. Despite its potential, significant challenges remain. Extracting thorium from rare earth ores requires substantial amounts of acid and energy, generating large volumes of wastewater. Additionally, concerns exist regarding the possible weaponization of thorium by-products, though experts argue these materials are not viable for nuclear weapons. China’s thorium research aligns with advancements in nuclear propulsion technology. The country recently unveiled the KUN-24AP, the world’s first thorium-powered nuclear container ship design, and is also exploring thorium reactors for lunar bases—highlighting the metal’s role in future energy solutions. China begins repatriation of over 1,000 online scam workers from Myanmar via Thailand “The demand for thorium in nuclear power and propulsion sectors presents both opportunities and challenges for its exploration and utilization in China,” Fan and his team noted in the report. Due to national security concerns, China’s total thorium reserves remain classified. However, the latest findings suggest the country could be sitting on an almost limitless supply of clean energy. The report was published in the Chinese journal Geological Review. Source: South China Morning Post (SCMP)

A minimum of four workers have lost their lives after an avalanche struck a construction crew working on a highway near India’s mountainous border with Tibet, the Indian army reported on Saturday, reports AP. The disaster occurred on Friday near the Mana Pass in Uttarakhand’s northern region, trapping 55 construction workers beneath the snow. Rescuers managed to pull out 50 of them, but four later succumbed to their injuries, according to an army statement. 41 workers trapped after being swept away by an avalanche in northern India The search for the remaining five missing workers was still underway, with multiple rescue teams and military helicopters scanning the site. The statement did not disclose the exact number of injured but confirmed that those affected were receiving priority evacuation. Chandrashekhar Vashistha, a senior administrative official, stated that some workers had sustained severe injuries and were undergoing treatment in hospital. Many of the trapped workers were migrant labourers involved in a project to widen and pave a 50-kilometre (31-mile) highway stretch from Mana, India’s last village, to the Mana Pass on the Tibet border. “Rescue efforts were hindered by heavy snowfall, making access difficult,” said Kamlesh Kamal, spokesperson for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. He added that rescuers faced significant challenges due to deep snow, ongoing snowstorms, and poor visibility. Avalanches in western US claim more lives in recent weeks including a weekend death in Colorado The fragile Himalayan ecosystem, already impacted by global warming, is highly susceptible to avalanches and flash floods. In 2022, an avalanche in Uttarakhand claimed the lives of 27 trainee mountaineers. The previous year, a glacier burst in the state triggered a flash flood, resulting in over 200 deaths.

Muslims in Indonesia are shopping for sweets and new clothes and taking part in traditional festivities as millions observe the holy month of Ramadan, which started on Saturday. Celebrations in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country range from colorful nighttime parades and cleaning family graves to preparing food for predawn breakfasts and elaborate post-sundown meals known as “iftars.” Each region in the vast archipelago nation of 17,000 islands has its own way to mark the start of Ramadan, when Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse from sunrise until sunset for the whole month. Even a tiny sip of water or a puff of smoke is enough to invalidate the fast. At night, family and friends gather and feast in a festive atmosphere. Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar announced on Friday that Ramadan will begin on Saturday, after the sighting of the crescent moon was confirmed by Islamic astronomy observers in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh. Shortly after the announcement, mosques flooded with devotees offering evening prayers known as “tarawih” on the first eve of Ramadan. In Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia, tens of thousands of worshippers crammed together shoulder-to-shoulder. The daylong fasting is aimed at bringing the faithful closer to God and reminding them of the suffering of the poor. Muslims are expected to strictly observe daily prayers and engage in heightened religious contemplation. They are also urged to refrain from gossip, fighting or cursing during the holy month. Flares, drums and tradition Samsul Anwar, his wife and their 8-year-old nephew were among hundreds of people taking part in a torchlight parade along the streets of their neighborhood in Tangerang, a city just outside the capital of Jakarta, on Wednesday after evening prayers. They carried torches, lit flares and played Islamic songs accompanied by the beat of rebana, the Arabic handheld percussion instrument, as they walked along the cramped streets of the densely populated neighborhood. “Every year we welcome Ramadan with a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation,” said Anwar. Chinese Indonesian communities also participated in the parade by performing the vibrant “barongsai” or “lion dance,” a prominent part of Chinese New Year celebration, to the sound of drums and trumpets. The barongsai performance “was also held to show unity between the religious communities of Chinese and Muslim, aiming to increase religious tolerance,” Anwar said. Cost of living anxieties It’s also an exciting time for business. Hotels, restaurants and cafes all prepare special Ramadan promotions, and shoppers flock to shopping centers for new clothes and home decorations for the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Children often receive new clothes and gifts. However, some Muslims worry how they will cope financially during Ramadan this year amid soaring prices. “Everything to do with cooking is rising (in cost) day by day,” said Asih Mulyawati, a mother of two who lives in Jakarta's outskirt of Tangerang. “I worry this situation will impact Ramadan celebrations.” Despite soaring food prices in the past month, popular markets such as Tanah Abang in Jakarta were teeming with shoppers buying clothes, shoes, cookies and sweets before the holiday. Indonesia’s Trade Ministry has said prices of imported staple foods including wheat, sugar, beef and soybeans have increased sharply this year as a result of rising global commodity prices and supply chain disruptions. But many people say the rise in prices not only impacts imported foods but also local commodities like rice, eggs, chili, palm oil and onions. Many also blame the government for rising gas and electricity prices. “The current gloomy economic situation and extreme weather recently also contribute to the soaring prices and the weakening of people's purchasing power,” said Heru Tatok, a trader in Jakarta's Pasar Senen market.  

At least 41 construction workers were trapped after a large group of them was swept away by an avalanche near India’s border with Tibet on Friday, officials said. The incident took place near the Mana Pass in northern Uttarakhand state, and 57 construction workers were initially buried under snow. Senior police officer Rajeev Swaroop said rescue teams have pulled out 16 workers so far. North Korea says it performed cruise missile tests, days after it vowed to respond to US threats Swaroop said three of them were transported to a military hospital for treatment, and efforts were underway to locate the other missing amid adverse weather conditions. Uttarakhand’s top elected official, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said the national disaster response force was helping with rescue efforts. 6.1 magnitude earthquake jolts Nepal's Kathmandu The ecologically sensitive Himalayan region, which has been severely affected by global warming, is prone to avalanches. In 2022, 27 trainee mountaineers were killed in an avalanche in the northern Uttarakhand region.

North Korea said Friday it had test-fired strategic cruise missiles to demonstrate its nuclear counter-attack capability, days after it vowed to respond to what it called escalating U.S.-led hostilities since the start of the Trump administration. The official Korean Central News Agency said leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the missile tests off the country’s west coast Wednesday. They were the North’s fourth missile launch event this year and the second of President Donald Trump's second term. The launches were designed to inform “the enemies, who are seriously violating our security environment and fostering and escalating the confrontation environment,” of the North Korean military’s counterattack capability and the readiness of its nuclear operations, KCNA said. Kim expressed satisfaction over the results of the drills and said the military must be fully ready to use its nuclear weapons, the report said. Ukraine claims to have captured 2 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement later Friday that it had detected and tracked the North Korean launches. It said the South Korean military maintains readiness to repel any potential provocation by North Korea based on the solid South Korea-U.S. military alliance. Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump has boasted of his summitry with Kim during his first term and said he would reach out to Kim again. North Korea hasn’t directly responded to Trump’s overture as it continues its typical aggressive rhetoric against the U.S. and weapons testing activities. Many experts say Kim, now preoccupied with his support of Russia’s war against Ukraine with supply of weapons and troops, won’t likely embrace Trump’s outreach anytime soon. They say Kim could reconsider if he doubts he'll maintain North Korea's current solid cooperation with Russia after the war ends. North Korea's Kim slams US-South Korea-Japan partnership and vows to boost his nuclear program Last Saturday, North Korea’s Defense Ministry alleged the U.S. and its allies were ramping up more serious military provocations targeting North Korea since Trump took power. It cited the recent U.S.-South Korean aerial exercise involving a U.S. B-1B bomber and other reported activities involving U.S. military assets. A Defense Ministry statement said North Korea will counter the strategic threat of the U.S. with strategic means. Kim and Trump met three times from 2018-19 to discuss the fate of North Korea’s nuclear program, but their diplomacy derailed due to disputes over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. Kim has since sharply increased the pace of weapons tests to expand and modernize his nuclear arsenal. Having a bigger nuclear arsenal now, experts say Kim would think he could win greater U.S. concessions if he revives diplomacy with Trump.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, early Friday morning. However, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the tremor was recorded at 2:51 am along the Kodari Highway in Sindhupalchowk district, about 65 km east of Kathmandu. The quake was felt across Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas. 6.0-magnitude earthquake jolts off Indonesia's North Sulawesi Nepal is situated in one of the most seismically active zones (Seismic Zones IV and V), making it highly susceptible to earthquakes. The most devastating quake in the country’s history occurred in 2015, when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake claimed over 9,000 lives and destroyed more than a million structures. Source: With input from agency 

The number of babies born in Japan in 2024 fell from a year earlier to 720,988, marking the ninth consecutive year of record lows, government data showed Thursday. The preliminary number, including those of foreign nationals, was down by 5 percent, or 37,643, from the previous year, marking the lowest tally since such records began in 1899, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Births decreased in all of Japan's 47 prefectures compared to the previous year, declining at a faster pace than government projections and showing no signs of slowing, the ministry said. The number of marriages, which directly affects the birthrate, stood at 499,999 couples in 2024, up by 10,718 from 2023 when the figure dropped below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years. The number of babies born to Japanese nationals in 2024, to be released by the ministry around June, is expected to fall below 700,000 for the first time amid the downward trend. Meanwhile, the number of deaths in 2024 increased by 1.8 percent, or 28,181, to a record 1,618,684, resulting in the biggest-ever annual decline in total population, the data showed.

Eight people were killed in a nighttime fire in the Philippine capital region that gutted a three-story residential building early Thursday in less than an hour, officials said. The fire, which also injured at least one resident, broke out after midnight in the building, which was mostly made of wood, as people slept in San Isidro Galas village in suburban Quezon city, officials said. An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire. Feni road crash kills six, injures 10 Two of the dead were found on the ground floor and six others were recovered on the second floor, where the fire apparently started, senior fire officer Rolando Valeña told The Associated Press, citing witnesses. The blaze happened just two days before the Philippines marks fire-prevention month in March, when the government launches an annual campaign to raise awareness about fire hazards ahead of the onset of the scorching summer season. Many deadly fires in the Philippines have been blamed on poor enforcement of safety regulations, overcrowding and faulty building designs. 2 police officers killed during traffic stop in Virginia Beach A 1996 disco fire in Quezon city killed 162 people, mostly students celebrating the end of the school year, in one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the world in recent decades. They were unable to escape because the emergency exit was blocked by a new building next door.

A crackdown on online scam centers has left over 7,000 people stranded in a Myanmar border town, awaiting repatriation. The mass operation, coordinated by Thailand, Myanmar, and China, is putting a strain on Thailand’s resources and delaying the process, reports AP.  The crackdown follows Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s recent visit to Beijing, where she assured Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Thailand would act against scam networks exploiting people worldwide through fraudulent investment schemes, romance scams, and illegal gambling. Many victims were lured under false pretenses and forced into scam operations, often in conditions resembling slavery.  Thai, Myanmar, and Chinese officials plan to meet next week to discuss logistical challenges, as concerns grow over a potential humanitarian crisis. The goal is to set clear repatriation guidelines, Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson Thanathip Sawangsang said.  85 Bangladeshis among 598 immigrants detained in Myanmar In an effort to dismantle the scam centers, Thailand has also cut off electricity, internet, and gas to several Myanmar border areas, citing national security.  Amy Miller, Southeast Asia director of aid group Act of Mercy International, described the scale of the release as unprecedented. She acknowledged Thai authorities' efforts but noted that managing the situation requires international cooperation. “Housing, feeding, and processing such a large number is overwhelming for any government,” she said, urging home countries to take responsibility.  Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Tuesday acknowledged concerns over potential security risks if repatriation is delayed. Verification of identities remains a key challenge, a diplomatic source said.  Over half of those stranded are Chinese nationals. Last week, China repatriated more than 600 people via 16 chartered flights. Earlier this month, around 260 individuals from 20 countries, including Ethiopia, Brazil, and the Philippines, crossed into Thailand for processing. Over 100 remain in Thai custody.  Mae Sot, a key transit point for trafficking victims, is now at the center of repatriation efforts. Checkpoints along the route warn travelers in Thai, English, and Chinese about trafficking risks, while security forces conduct vehicle checks and verify identifications.