United News of Bangladesh

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began a two-day official visit to Malaysia, a trip seen as significant for further strengthening bilateral relations that were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in August 2024. This is Modi’s third visit to Malaysia and his first since the two countries upgraded ties during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s state visit to India last year. The Indian prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Anwar, focusing on political, economic and defence cooperation. India and Malaysia formally established diplomatic relations in 1957, with ties steadily expanding over the decades. Relations were upgraded to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership during Modi’s 2015 visit, before being elevated further last year. Political engagement between the two sides has remained consistent in recent years, with frequent leader-level interactions on multilateral platforms. Modi and Anwar met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil in July 2025, while Modi also attended the ASEAN-India Summit virtually from Kuala Lumpur in October 2025. The two leaders have also held regular telephone and virtual discussions. High-level ministerial exchanges have continued, including visits by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Defence cooperation has expanded, with India increasing its institutional presence in Malaysia, including the opening of a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited regional office in Kuala Lumpur in 2023. Economic ties have also deepened, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $19.85 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Malaysia is India’s third-largest trading partner within ASEAN, while India ranks among Malaysia’s top 10 global trading partners. People-to-people links remain a key pillar of the relationship. Malaysia hosts around 2.9 million people of Indian origin, one of the largest Indian diaspora communities worldwide. Cultural and educational cooperation has grown through initiatives such as academic chairs supported by India at Malaysian universities. During the visit, Modi is expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora and business leaders. Discussions may also explore avenues for enhanced defence collaboration, including aircraft sales and maintenance support, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.   With inputs from NDTV

An affiliate of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital that killed at least 31 people and injured 169 others. The claim was made overnight by Islamic State in Pakistan through a statement on its Amaq News Agency. Authorities said the bomber has been identified, his facilitators traced and the alleged mastermind arrested. According to the claim, the attacker opened fire on security guards at the mosque’s main gate before detonating his explosive vest inside the mosque compound. The group again described Pakistan’s Shiite community as a target, using sectarian language to justify the attack. Saturday, heavy security was deployed as funerals were held at the same mosque for several victims. More than 2,000 mourners attended, including Shiite leaders and senior government officials. Other victims were buried in their home towns. The attack was the deadliest in Islamabad since the 2008 suicide bombing at the Marriott Hotel. It comes amid a sharp rise in militant violence across Pakistan. Authorities said the attacker was a Pakistani national who had recently traveled to Afghanistan. Several suspects, including close relatives of the bomber, were arrested during overnight raids in Islamabad and northwestern Pakistan. A police officer was killed during one of the operations. State-run Pakistan Television reported the arrest of an alleged Afghan national linked to Islamic State, who is suspected of planning the attack. It said the bombing was coordinated from Afghanistan. Kabul has not commented on the claim. Islamic State, a Sunni militant group, has repeatedly targeted Pakistan’s Shiite minority in past attacks aimed at fueling sectarian tensions. In 2022, the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar that killed dozens. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said the attack showed that militants based in Afghanistan could strike even in the capital. His comments were strongly rejected by Afghanistan’s Taliban government, which condemned the attack but accused Pakistan of making irresponsible claims. Kabul has consistently denied sheltering militants. The bombing drew condemnation from the United States, Russia and the European Union. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the international community for messages of support and said those responsible would be brought to justice. He stressed that global cooperation remains vital for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts. Although Islamabad has seen fewer attacks than other parts of the country, Pakistan has recently faced growing militant violence, much of it linked to separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, which is allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban.

The chairman of Yemen’s ruling leadership council has announced the formation of a new cabinet, weeks after deadly violence erupted in the country’s south and a separatist group was dissolved. The recent escalation has laid bare growing rifts within the Saudi-led coalition battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, announced the formation of a new cabinet in a presidential decree released late Friday by the state-run SABA news agency. The new government consists of 35 ministers and is headed by Prime Minister Shae’a al-Zandani, who will also continue to serve as foreign minister. Only two women were included in the cabinet: Afrah al-Zouba, appointed minister of planning and international cooperation, and Ahd Jaasous, named state minister for women’s affairs. Maj. Gen. Taher al-Aqili was appointed defense minister, while Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Haidan was named interior minister. Both are tasked with overseeing Saudi backed operations aimed at dismantling militias linked to the separatist Southern Transitional Council, which is supported by the United Arab Emirates. Read More: Saudi Arabia backs Yemen request for talks to end southern fighting Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war for more than a decade, driven by deep-rooted sectarian and tribal divisions and fueled by regional rivalries. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, control much of the country’s north, including the capital, Sanaa. In contrast, Saudi Arabia and its allies back the internationally recognized government in the south. Although the Southern Transitional Council opposes the Houthis, it seeks an independent southern state. Recent clashes in southern provinces exposed tensions within the coalition, particularly between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, underscoring the fragile nature of their alliance as the conflict remains largely at a stalemate.

An affiliate of the Islamic State group said overnight it was behind a deadly suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital, which killed 31 people and injured 169 others. On Saturday, mourners gathered at the same mosque under heavy security to attend funeral prayers for the victims. The regional affiliate of the Islamic State, identifying itself as Islamic State in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released through its Amaq News Agency. According to the group, the bomber opened fire on security personnel who attempted to stop him at the main entrance before detonating his explosive vest near the mosque’s inner gate. The group described Pakistan’s Shiite population as a legitimate target, using inflammatory language to justify attacks by alleging they support Shiite militias fighting Islamic State in Syria. Friday’s bombing marked the deadliest attack in Islamabad since the 2008 suicide blast at the Marriott Hotel that killed 63 people. In November, another suicide attack outside a court in the capital left 12 people dead. Read More: 145 'Indian-backed terrorists' killed in Balochistan, says Pakistan The assault comes amid a surge in militant violence across Pakistan that has posed a major challenge for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government. Authorities said the attacker was a Pakistani national who had recently traveled to Afghanistan. Several relatives, including his brother and mother, were arrested during overnight raids in Islamabad and northwestern Pakistan, during which a police officer was killed. More than 2,000 mourners attended funeral prayers at the mosque, joined by senior officials and Shiite community leaders. Other victims were buried in their hometowns. The attack drew condemnation from Afghanistan’s Taliban government and the international community, including the United States, Russia and the European Union. Prime Minister Sharif thanked countries worldwide for their support and vowed those responsible would be brought to justice.

India and the United States on Friday released a framework for an interim trade agreement aimed at lowering tariffs on Indian goods, a move that has drawn criticism from opposition parties in India who say the deal favors Washington. The joint statement came a week after US President Donald Trump announced plans to cut import duties on Indian products, following months of trade tensions between the two countries. Last year, the US imposed high tariffs on India to pressure New Delhi to reduce its dependence on discounted Russian crude oil. Under the proposed agreement, tariffs on Indian goods entering the US market would be reduced to 18 percent from the current 25 percent. Trump said the decision followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to stop purchasing Russian oil. Both countries described the framework as “reciprocal and mutually beneficial” and said they would continue working toward a broader trade agreement. The future deal is expected to include wider market access and measures to strengthen supply chains. As part of the interim arrangement, India agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American agricultural and food products, according to the statement. Trump earlier said India would gradually bring down import taxes on US goods to zero and purchase up to $500 billion worth of American products. On Friday, he also signed an executive order revoking a separate 25 percent tariff imposed on Indian goods last year. However, Indian opposition parties criticized the deal, warning it could hurt sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy, which provide livelihoods for millions of people. Responding to the concerns, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said the agreement protects key agricultural and dairy products, including maize, wheat, rice, ethanol, tobacco and certain vegetables. “This agreement will open a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters,” Goyal said in a social media post, referring to the size of the US economy. He added that the deal could create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Goyal also said tariffs would be reduced to zero on several Indian exports to the US, including generic medicines, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts. India has recently expanded its trade ties globally, including a free trade agreement with the European Union and new trade deals with Oman and New Zealand.

At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured in an explosion at a Shia mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area of Islamabad during Friday prayers, officials said. Islamabad’s deputy commissioner Irfan Memon confirmed the casualty figures, adding that emergency measures have been imposed at major hospitals in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Security forces cordoned off the site as investigators gathered evidence from the scene. Police indicated that the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated explosives after being stopped at the mosque entrance. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire as two attackers approached the mosque, with a brief exchange between mosque guards and the assailants before the explosion. One attacker was reportedly hit by gunfire before detonating his vest. Eyewitnesses described chaos at the scene, with injured worshippers lying across the mosque compound and locals rushing victims to hospitals. Mosque caretaker Syed Ashfaq said, “Bodies were lying everywhere, some missing arms or legs. We transported the most critically injured in our own vehicles.” The Pakistani president, Asif Ali Zardari, condemned the attack, calling it “a crime against humanity” and expressing solidarity with the victims’ families. In response to the attack, 25 ambulances were dispatched to Islamabad, and all hospitals across Rawalpindi District were placed on high alert, with specialist surgical teams on standby, according to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The blast occurred amid ongoing discussions of a potential military operation in Pakistan’s Tirah Valley along the Afghan border, though the government has not officially confirmed the operation. Relations with the Afghan Taliban have been tense, and Pakistan recently reported returning over one million Afghan nationals across the border in the past year. Last year saw a sharp rise in militant-related deaths across Pakistan, with militants accounting for more than half of the fatalities, according to an independent think tank report. The attack in Islamabad follows a series of high-profile militant incidents, including a suicide attack in November last year at district courts that killed 12 people, and coordinated assaults in Balochistan in which security forces said they killed more than 200 militants. Authorities are continuing the investigation into the cause and perpetrators of Friday’s blast.   With inputs from BBC

India’s parliament was thrown into turmoil after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir by former army chief General MM Naravane, in which top political leaders are accused of failing to give clear instructions during the 2020 border clash with China. The memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny, has been awaiting government clearance since 2024. Gandhi’s attempt to read excerpts during a parliamentary debate on Monday was repeatedly interrupted, bringing proceedings to a standstill. He said the book claimed that as Chinese tanks advanced, Naravane was told “to do what he deemed appropriate,” highlighting a lack of direction from political leadership during the Galwan valley standoff in Ladakh, which left 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian army and violating parliamentary rules by citing an unpublished work. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that Gandhi present the actual book in the house. Gandhi insisted his source was authentic and held up a copy of the unpublished memoir to reporters on Wednesday, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had effectively left operational decisions to Naravane. Naravane served as India’s army chief from 2019 to 2022. His memoir, which details his personal life and military career, has been delayed amid concerns that it contains sensitive operational information. Under Indian law, retired military officials must obtain clearance from their former organizations before publishing material that could affect national security. Experts say retired officers can receive approval, be asked for revisions, or face rejection if content is deemed sensitive. Naravane is not the first Indian army chief to publish a memoir recounting military conflicts, with past works covering confrontations with Pakistan and operations in Kashmir. The controversy has reignited political debate over India’s handling of the 2020 China standoff and raised questions about transparency, civil-military relations, and parliamentary procedures. Eight Congress MPs were later suspended for disorderly conduct as disruptions continued into Tuesday. Gandhi has previously accused the Modi government of “ceding” Indian territory to China during the 2020 border clash, claims the government strongly denies. The political row comes amid ongoing scrutiny of India-China relations and the strategic management of disputed Himalayan border areas.   With inputs from BBC

Widespread erosion of basic human rights is taking a heavy toll on Asian economies, leaving vulnerable populations exposed to labor abuses, scams and inequality, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Thursday. The report highlights that authoritarian trends across the region have made governments increasingly hostile to efforts that protect fundamental rights. It urges “rights-respecting democracies” to collaborate with civil society groups to counter this trend and address gaps left by the U.S. withdrawal of foreign aid and participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization under former President Donald Trump. The report notes that growing inequality has allowed the powerful to prosper while the poor bear the brunt of economic and social hardships. In Afghanistan, forced returns of displaced people combined with steep cuts to foreign aid have left over 22 million people without adequate food, shelter, or medical care. In Indonesia, Indigenous activists and government critics opposing mining and oil projects have faced threats and arrests, leaving them little recourse against vested interests. Predatory microfinance lending in countries like Cambodia has trapped poor communities, particularly Indigenous populations, in debt and forced land sales. Worker protections across Asia are also weakening. Migrant workers in Nepal and Bangladesh remain highly vulnerable despite decades of labor reforms. Many face exploitative recruitment fees, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and sexual violence abroad. In Singapore, migrant workers are excluded from key protections under the Employment Act and restricted from union participation, the report said. Criminal and illicit activities are rising in several countries. In Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, weak enforcement against human trafficking, labor abuses, and cyber-scam operations has allowed criminal networks to flourish. Journalists exposing these issues in Cambodia have faced detention under charges of threatening national security. In Myanmar, the 2021 military takeover displaced 3.6 million people, while illicit opium and synthetic drug production have surged, reversing years of progress. The report also highlighted some positive developments. In South Korea, lawmakers successfully resisted former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration, resulting in his impeachment and a five-year prison sentence. Gen-Z protests in Nepal, Indonesia and Bangladesh have drawn attention to corruption, inequality and poor governance, though not always achieving long-term democratic change. Violent demonstrations in Indonesia in August over excessive parliamentary allowances resulted in 10 deaths but showcased public resistance to unaccountable governance. “People know when they see unjust, unaccountable governments, and they're prepared to take to the streets and do something about it,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. The report underscores the economic and social risks of ongoing human rights backsliding in Asia and calls for international support and stronger local protections to safeguard vulnerable populations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that he hopes to work with U.S. President Donald Trump in the new year to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations steadily forward through wind and storms, and accomplish more big things and good things. During his talks with Trump over phone, Xi noted that he attaches great importance to China-U.S. relations, saying that over the past year, he and Trump have enjoyed sound communication, and had a successful meeting in Busan, charting the direction and course for China-U.S. relations. This has been welcomed by the people of both countries and the broader international community. Just as the United States has its concerns, China for its part also has concerns, he said. China always means what it says and matches its words with actions and results. If the two sides work in the same direction in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit, we can surely find ways to address each other's concerns, Xi said. The Chinese president said that both China and the United States have important items on their agenda this year -- China will kick off its 15th Five-Year Plan, and the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence. China will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and the United States, the G20 Summit, he added. The two sides should follow the common understandings we have reached, enhance dialogue and communication, manage differences properly, and expand practical cooperation, Xi said. It is always right to do a good thing, however small, and always wrong to do a bad thing, however small, he said, noting that the two sides should make progress step by step to build mutual trust, find the right way to get along, and make 2026 a year where the two major countries advance toward mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Xi emphasized that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations. Taiwan is China's territory, and China must safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will never allow Taiwan to be separated, he said. The United States must handle the issue of arms sales to Taiwan with prudence, Xi said.  

Heavy snowfall across northern Japan over the past two weeks has claimed at least 35 lives nationwide, according to government officials, as weather authorities warned that more snow is expected in the coming days. Many of the deaths were linked to snow-related accidents, including sudden heart attacks, falls from rooftops and slips while clearing snow. So far, 15 prefectures have been affected, with snow levels in the hardest-hit areas reaching as high as two meters (about 6.5 feet). Niigata Prefecture reported the highest number of fatalities, with 12 deaths. Among them was a man in his 50s who was found collapsed on the roof of his home in Uonuma city on January 21. In another incident, a man in his 70s in Nagaoka city was discovered unconscious outside his house and later died in hospital. Local officials believe he fell while removing snow from his roof. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara cautioned that risks may increase even as temperatures begin to rise. Melting snow could trigger landslides and create slippery conditions, he said. Urging people to take extra care, Kihara advised wearing helmets and using safety ropes when clearing snow. Special task forces have been deployed in Niigata and nearby areas since the heavy snowfall began on January 20. Elsewhere, seven snow-related deaths were reported in Akita Prefecture and five in Yamagata Prefecture. Across the country, 393 people have been injured, including 126 seriously. Niigata alone accounted for 42 serious injuries. Authorities also reported damage to 14 homes, with most cases recorded in Niigata and Aomori prefectures. Florida braces for frost and possible snow flurries as winter storms hit other parts of the US While the exact cause of the unusually heavy snowfall remains unclear, such accidents are not rare during Japan’s winter months. Last year, 68 snow-related deaths were recorded over a six-month winter period, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Weather officials have forecast more heavy snow for the coming weekend and are urging residents to stay alert and prioritize safety.