United News of Bangladesh

Authorities in Delhi tried to tackle the capital’s worsening air pollution on Tuesday by conducting a cloud seeding experiment—a method of modifying clouds to produce rain—but the trial was largely unsuccessful. Cloud seeding involves releasing tiny particles, usually silver iodide, into clouds to trigger rainfall. While the technique is applied globally, experts question its long-term effectiveness in controlling air pollution. A team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, in collaboration with the Delhi government, carried out the experiment across several city neighbourhoods as thick smog blanketed the area. However, the attempt—the first in 53 years—was “not completely successful” due to insufficient moisture in the air. Over the last two weeks, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) harmful to the lungs, has stayed between 300 and 400—almost 20 times the safe limit.On Tuesday, authorities deployed a Cessna aircraft to release fire flares containing silver iodide and sodium chloride into the atmosphere. In a statement, IIT Kanpur said that despite the lack of rain, the trial caused a measurable reduction in particulate matter, “indicating that even under limited moisture conditions, cloud seeding can contribute to improved air quality.” However, the institute’s director Manindra Agarwal told BBC Hindi that this cannot serve as a long-term solution for Delhi’s persistent pollution. "One measure of success is if it rains, which certainly did not happen," said Mr Agarwal. "The moisture content in the clouds yesterday [Tuesday] was very low. We will continue our efforts in the near future." The trial is expected to be repeated in the coming weeks when cloud moisture levels increase, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa told reporters. Delhi’s first cloud-seeding experiment took place in 1957, followed by another in 1972, according to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. While those earlier attempts focused on drought management, Mr Agarwal said this was the city’s first homegrown effort to curb pollution through cloud seeding. The city had also considered cloud seeding in 2023, but the plan was delayed due to pending court approvals. At that time, scientists noted that the technique is costly and has low success rates. Cloud seeding works by accelerating moisture condensation in clouds. Salt particles act as ice-nucleating agents, allowing ice crystals to form and moisture to condense into rain. But the process depends on adequate cloud moisture and humidity, and doesn’t always succeed. Climate expert Abinash Mohanty told the BBC in 2023, “We also don't know what its [cloud seeding] effects are because in the end you're trying to alter natural processes and that's bound to have limitations.” Worldwide, cloud-seeding results have been mixed. China has claimed success in managing rainfall before the Olympics using rockets, cannons, and drones, whereas in the UAE, doubts arose after flooding in Dubai last year. With inputs from BBC

A major ethnic rebel group in Myanmar on Wednesday announced a ceasefire with the military after China-mediated talks, bringing a pause to months of intense clashes in the northeast near the Chinese border. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) said the truce was signed during talks held Monday and Tuesday in Kunming, a Chinese provincial capital about 400 kilometers from the Myanmar border. The announcement was made via a statement on the Telegram messaging platform. The ceasefire is seen as a strategic gain for Myanmar’s military government, which has regained control over key territories ahead of elections scheduled to begin Dec. 28. Critics argue the polls, which exclude main opposition parties, aim to legitimize and consolidate military rule. As part of the agreement, the TNLA will withdraw its troops from Mogok, a ruby-mining hub in Mandalay region, and Momeik in northern Shan state, although no specific timeline was given. In return, the military pledged to halt ground offensives and airstrikes on the group’s remaining areas. The rebels had earlier lost control of three strategic towns – Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, and Hsipaw – on a major highway linking central Myanmar to China, following a heavy military offensive. The TNLA is a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which also includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army. The alliance has fought for decades for greater autonomy from the central government and maintains loose ties with pro-democracy resistance groups that emerged after the military takeover in February 2021. Since October 2023, the alliance captured large areas in northeastern and western Myanmar near the Chinese border. Their advance slowed after previous China-brokered ceasefires, allowing the army to retake key towns, including Lashio in April and Nawnghkio in July, followed by Kyaukme and Hsipaw in October. Beijing, which has significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar, has expressed concern over instability along its borders and played a key role in brokering the latest truce.  

North Korea on Wednesday claimed success in its latest sea-launched cruise missile tests, showcasing advances in its expanding military arsenal as U.S. President Donald Trump began a visit to South Korea. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missiles, launched Tuesday, flew for more than two hours before hitting targets in western waters. It said the tests would strengthen the range and operational capabilities of the North’s nuclear-armed military. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch activity, saying the missiles were fired around 3pm from the country’s northwest coast. Officials said Seoul and Washington are analyzing the weapons while maintaining a joint defense posture capable of a “dominant response” to any threat. The announcement came just hours before Trump was due to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, where Seoul is hosting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings this week. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Japan, Trump minimized the significance of the launches, saying North Korea has been testing missiles “for decades.” He reiterated his willingness to meet leader Kim Jong Un again, noting their previous summits in 2018 and 2019 before diplomacy stalled over sanctions disputes. KCNA said senior military official Pak Jong Chon oversaw the drills and inspected operations aboard the newly built destroyers Choe Hyon and Kang Kon, which Kim has touted as vital to boosting naval forces. The cruise missile tests followed a series of short-range ballistic launches last week involving what Pyongyang described as a new hypersonic system aimed at strengthening its nuclear deterrence. Trump is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his stay, though South Korean officials say a Trump–Kim encounter is unlikely. North Korea has refused talks with Washington and Seoul since negotiations collapsed in 2019. Its diplomatic focus has shifted toward Russia, as Kim supplies troops and military equipment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine and calls for a “new Cold War” against the U.S.-led West. Kim recently reiterated he will not return to dialogue unless Washington abandons its demand for denuclearization, despite Trump’s renewed push for engagement.   Source: AP

Pakistan on Wednesday said its latest round of peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government has collapsed in Istanbul, accusing Kabul of refusing to crack down on militants responsible for a spike in cross-border attacks. The four-day negotiations were arranged after deadly clashes along the border this month left dozens of civilians, soldiers and insurgents dead. A previous round hosted by Qatar in Doha produced a ceasefire on Oct. 19, which both sides say remains in effect. In a post on social media platform X, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the talks “failed to bring about any workable solution” despite efforts by Qatar and Turkey to mediate. He said the Taliban regime showed indifference to Pakistan’s security concerns, alleging its territory continues to shelter militants targeting Pakistan. There was no immediate response from Kabul to the Pakistani minister’s remarks. Earlier, state media in both countries had acknowledged an impasse, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a breakthrough. Three Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions, said there was deadlock over Kabul’s reluctance to provide firm assurances that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan. Officials said the Taliban delegation repeatedly sought instructions from Kabul, slowing progress. Afghan state media RTA meanwhile accused Islamabad of lacking the intention to hold constructive talks. Tarar warned that Pakistan’s “patience has run its course” and vowed that Islamabad would take all necessary measures to protect its citizens from terrorism. He thanked Qatar and Turkey for their diplomatic role in easing months of escalating tensions. Pakistan has witnessed a renewed surge in attacks it blames on the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, a group allied with the Afghan Taliban. Islamabad has long insisted TTP leaders are being sheltered in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in 2021. Military strikes by Pakistan earlier this month on what it described as TTP hideouts triggered the recent border clashes, prompting Qatar’s mediation. Border crossings remain shut for more than two weeks, leaving hundreds of goods-laden trucks stranded on both sides and disrupting crucial trade flows.   Source: AP  

Record-breaking rainfall has caused severe flooding in central Vietnam, submerging homes, farmland, and major tourist sites including the historic cities of Hue and Hoi An. The city of Hue received 1,085 millimeters (42 inches) of rain in 24 hours by late Monday, marking the highest rainfall ever recorded in Vietnam, according to the country’s meteorological department. The Perfume River in Hue rose to 4.62 meters (15 feet), while waters in Hoi An’s Hoai River reached nearly 2 meters (6 ½ feet), forcing the evacuation of around 40,000 tourists to safer hotels. Local authorities used boats to rescue residents in submerged neighborhoods, and major streets in Hue were impassable. The rail line connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was temporarily suspended, affecting thousands of passengers. In an emergency measure, 19 train carriages carrying 980 tons of stones were placed on a bridge to prevent it from being washed away. About 1,000 people in rural areas of Thua Thien Hue province, including 200 children under the care of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, remain isolated due to flooding and landslides. Experts link the increasingly intense storms to global warming, as warmer oceans fuel stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia. Vietnam remains highly vulnerable to floods, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas.  

Indian authorities on Tuesday conducted a cloud-seeding experiment over heavily polluted New Delhi to induce rainfall and help clear the city’s toxic air, which has drawn public concern. A plane released chemicals into clouds over parts of the capital to encourage rain and wash out pollutants. Despite the attempt, air quality remained in the “very poor” category, according to local monitors. Cloud seeding, a method of weather modification that triggers rain by dispersing chemicals into clouds, has previously been used in drought-prone regions, including the western United States and the United Arab Emirates. Experts, however, remain skeptical about its overall effectiveness. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the trial was conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and that further attempts are planned in the coming days. Authorities anticipate brief rainfall in some areas following the experiment. New Delhi and surrounding regions, home to over 30 million people, frequently rank among the world’s most polluted. India houses six of the 10 most polluted cities globally, with New Delhi topping the list of capitals, according to Swiss air quality database IQAir. Pollution worsens each winter due to crop residue burning in nearby states and cooler temperatures trapping smoke from vehicles and industries. Levels often exceed 20 times the World Health Organization’s safe limit. Authorities have imposed construction restrictions, limited diesel generator use, and deployed sprinklers and anti-smog guns. Experts, including Krishna Achuta Rao of IIT Delhi, stress that cloud seeding offers only temporary relief and that strict emission-reduction laws are essential for lasting improvements. “Cloud seeding is not a cure; it mainly demonstrates that action is being taken,” Rao said. Source: AP

China signed an upgraded free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday, positioning itself as a counterweight to U.S. protectionism and deepening its economic influence in the region. Premier Li Qiang told the ASEAN-China summit that closer cooperation with Beijing could help the region weather global economic uncertainties. He took a veiled swipe at Washington, saying that “pursuing confrontation instead of solidarity brings no benefit.” The ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0, signed in Kuala Lumpur, aims to expand trade, investment, and digital cooperation among a market of more than 2 billion people. It updates the original 2002 agreement to include areas such as green energy, e-commerce, and support for small businesses. Two-way trade between ASEAN and China has grown to nearly $1 trillion, making them each other’s largest trading partners. Li described the nations as “good neighbors and good brothers,” saying mutual reliance could counter “unilateralism and protectionism.” However, tensions were visible. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the deal but cautioned that “cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion,” referring to China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea. He urged Beijing to respect international law and avoid “dangerous harassment” of Philippine vessels. The summit also reflected ASEAN’s balancing act between Beijing and Washington. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current ASEAN chair, said the bloc seeks “steady engagement” with all powers. “Yesterday we were with President Donald Trump, and today we are back with China,” he said. Analysts said the upgraded pact highlights how countries are diversifying trade ties as U.S.-China tensions persist.

Political parties in military-ruled Myanmar began election campaigning Tuesday, two months ahead of a December vote widely viewed as an attempt to legitimize the military’s 2021 coup, despite ongoing civil conflict that will prevent voting in many regions. The campaign launch came a day after U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned Southeast Asian leaders that the planned polls could worsen Myanmar’s turmoil. Critics have dismissed the December 28 election as neither free nor fair. Fifty-seven parties have registered to run, but Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the last two elections, will not contest. The NLD was among dozens of parties disbanded by the army-appointed election commission after refusing to participate in what it called a “sham” process. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) launched its campaign under the slogan “Stronger Myanmar” with rallies in Naypyitaw and Yangon. The Naypyitaw event drew hundreds of supporters dressed in green and was attended by senior party figures, including former generals now serving in the junta’s Cabinet. USDP chairman Khin Yi, a former general and police chief, pledged that his party would follow election laws, claiming the polls would provide legitimacy to the government. Other parties have yet to hold public rallies, relying instead on social media outreach. State-run TV and radio will air campaign messages from registered parties until November 24. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said voting will take place in phases, with 102 of Myanmar’s 330 townships voting first, followed by 100 more later, citing ongoing fighting as the reason. With major opposition forces sidelined, the USDP, which is fielding over 1,000 candidates, is expected to dominate. Opposition and resistance groups have vowed to disrupt the polls. The General Strike Coordination Body, a leading anti-military network, has called for a nationwide election boycott through year’s end. The military seized power in February 2021, overthrowing Suu Kyi’s elected government over unproven claims of voter fraud. The coup triggered widespread armed resistance and deadly crackdowns, with recent airstrikes killing scores of civilians as the junta seeks to regain control before the election.

A parked Air India ground service bus near Terminal 3 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport caught fire on Tuesday, though no passengers were present, officials said. The vehicle, operated by AI SATS at bay number 32, suddenly went up in flames, prompting a rapid response from airport fire crews and emergency teams who managed to douse the fire before it spread. “In an isolated incident, a bus belonging to a ground handling agency caught fire around noon,” Delhi Airport stated on X. “Our ARFF team acted immediately and controlled the situation within minutes.” The airport authority added that the bus was empty when the incident occurred and no one was injured. Flight operations continued uninterrupted, with the safety of passengers and staff remaining the top priority.

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan hosted by Turkey in Istanbul have reached a deadlock after three days of negotiations, with state media in both countries blaming each other for the failure to reach an agreement. Turkish officials continue to mediate efforts to break the stalemate. The Istanbul talks form part of a wider diplomatic effort to ease months of heightened tension between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border attacks and militant sanctuaries—issues that have strained relations since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Delegations from both countries remain in Turkey, but it is unclear whether a fourth day of talks will take place. Pakistan Television reported that Turkish officials, along with representatives from several other countries, are working to maintain the ceasefire agreed upon on October 19 in Doha following deadly cross-border clashes that killed dozens of soldiers, militants, and civilians. Three Pakistani security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that the talks in Istanbul stalled due to Kabul’s reluctance to accept Pakistan’s demands for assurances that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan. The officials said the Taliban delegation was “not fully willing” to accept Pakistan’s proposals and continued to seek guidance from Kabul before making decisions. Afghan state media RTA, meanwhile, accused Pakistan of obstructing the talks, saying Kabul “made every effort to hold constructive discussions,” but that the “Pakistani side does not seem to have this intention.” U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to help resolve the crisis between the two neighbors swiftly. The previous round of talks, hosted by Qatar, produced a ceasefire that both sides say remains in place despite the current stalemate. Security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali, based in Islamabad, said Afghanistan appears to be slowing the diplomatic process and shifting focus to other bilateral issues, while showing “reluctance to give clear, unambiguous, and internationally verifiable commitments to act against Pakistan-based militants, including the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).” Pakistan has reported a surge in militant attacks in recent years, mostly attributed to the TTP, which it says is being sheltered in Afghanistan. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s military targeted TTP hideouts in Afghanistan, triggering deadly clashes until Qatar brokered the ceasefire. All border crossings between the two countries have remained closed for more than two weeks, leaving trucks carrying goods stranded and disrupting key trade routes.   Source: AP