United News of Bangladesh

Russia said Thursday it will close several German cultural centers after Berlin accused Moscow of being behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and announced the closure of Russian diplomatic and cultural facilities in Germany. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said centers operated by Germany's Goethe-Institut would be shut down in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Lavrov said Germany should have understood that closing the Russian House cultural center in Berlin would bring an end to Germany's cultural presence in Russia. The move came after German authorities blamed Russia for an alleged plot involving a drone carrying explosives that was found near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4. The device was later defused. The airport is a major international cargo hub and has been used to provide support and supplies to Ukraine. Western officials have repeatedly accused Russia of carrying out sabotage and other disruptive activities across Europe in an effort to weaken support for Ukraine and destabilize European countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the accusations, claiming that Germany was trying to divert attention from its own domestic problems and growing voter dissatisfaction. He also said any evidence presented against Russia had been fabricated. EU considers response European Union foreign ministers discussed possible responses to the alleged drone attack on Wednesday but faced difficulties in finding new measures that would address the threat without military action. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the incident appeared to have the characteristics of state-sponsored terrorism. Possible measures discussed included additional sanctions, visa restrictions and the closure of Russian consulates. The EU has already imposed nearly two dozen rounds of sanctions on Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, targeting more than 3,000 Russian officials, business figures and organisations, including banks, energy companies and drone manufacturers. Kallas said the bloc was also preparing additional travel bans and asset freezes against around 1,600 more individuals. Germany said it was “not at war” with Russia but had become a regular target of what it described as the Kremlin's hybrid campaign. German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul said Berlin had carefully prepared its response and that Moscow would now have to face the consequences. He also called on Russia to demonstrate its willingness to engage in meaningful talks and negotiations, particularly over the war in Ukraine.

Russia launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine, firing missiles and drones at cities across the country. The strikes continued into Thursday morning, with explosions heard in Kyiv. Ukraine is facing a shortage of US-made Patriot air defense missiles, which are among its main weapons against Russian ballistic missiles. Russia has also introduced fast, jet-powered drones, adding another challenge for Ukrainian defenses. Ukrainian officials say Russia has been building up its missile stockpiles and launching large-scale attacks every few days in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses. Ukraine, meanwhile, has carried out long-range drone attacks on targets inside Russia. Russia says strikes targeted military facilitiesThe Russian Defense Ministry said its forces carried out a "massive" attack on nine Ukrainian cities from Wednesday night, targeting military-related facilities including industrial plants, oil refineries, logistics centers and port infrastructure. However, civilian areas were also damaged. A 78-year-old woman was killed in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and another person died in the northern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian officials said. At least 14 others were wounded in different areas. "Russia continues to invest in missiles and in expanding its war, and that means more countermeasures are needed," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media. He welcomed promises made by European countries earlier this week to provide additional air defense support, but said Ukraine also needs more systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles through European purchases of US weapons. The strikes also damaged businesses and other economic infrastructure. Russian drones hit three major distribution centers, destroying warehouses belonging to a toy retailer and a confectionery company and damaging another facility operated by an electronics retailer, the companies said. Russia also continued attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of the winter. Four powerful glide bombs destroyed generating equipment at a combined heat and power plant in the southern Kherson region, forcing the facility to shut down, its operator Naftogaz said. Zelenskyy to visit MoldovaZelenskyy was scheduled to visit neighboring Moldova on Thursday to attend celebrations marking the country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Ukraine also declared independence that year. Moldova's Defense Ministry said five drones entered its airspace overnight, though it did not say who launched them. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns among neighboring Eastern European countries about the possibility of the conflict spreading. Drone incursions into their airspace have added to those concerns. Ukraine's air force said it shot down or disrupted seven Russian ballistic missiles but did not provide details on how they were intercepted. Four districts of Kyiv were hit during the night, damaging apartment buildings, a school and a medical facility, city police said. No casualties were reported in the capital. Russian forces also targeted industrial and energy facilities in the central Poltava region, regional military administration chief Vitalii Diakivnych said. The southern Odesa region faced more than seven hours of Russian attacks, regional governor Oleh Kiper said. A 16-story residential building, two educational facilities and a grain elevator were damaged. Odesa is a major port for Ukraine's exports of grain and other agricultural products. The attacks also caused major disruption to rail services, with some trains delayed by more than 17 hours, state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said. Ukraine targets Russian businessesUkraine has also been carrying out near-daily long-range drone attacks against targets inside Russia. Ukraine's General Staff said air-launched missiles struck Russia's main and backup command posts near the eastern city of Donetsk, where Ukrainian troops are facing pressure from a Russian offensive. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 267 Ukrainian drones over 14 Russian regions, the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Ukrainian drones have recently targeted major Russian online retailers. After attacks destroyed large warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's biggest online retailer, drones have now targeted Ozon, the country's second-largest e-commerce company. Ozon initially said logistics facilities in Orenburg and Ufa were attacked, although neither caught fire. The company later revised its statement, saying only the Ufa facility was attacked while the Orenburg site was evacuated following an alert and later resumed normal operations.

A series of Russian missile strikes hit Kyiv overnight Thursday, killing at least six people and leaving 33 others injured, Ukrainian officials said. The attacks struck 12 sites in the capital’s Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts, damaging apartment buildings, a medical center and an educational facility. Rescue teams worked through the rubble to locate and free people who were trapped. In Solomianskyi district, the upper two floors of a nine-story residential building were destroyed, while fires erupted on several lower floors. Residents were also trapped inside two other apartment buildings and a school shelter. Ukraine’s Emergency Service said the air raid warning remained in place into the early hours of Thursday. The latest strikes come as Russia has increased its use of ballistic missiles against Kyiv, seeking to put further pressure on Ukraine’s already stretched air defense capabilities. Kyiv has only a limited number of systems able to intercept ballistic missiles, while supplies of ammunition for its U.S.-supplied Patriot systems remain tight. U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier approved Ukraine’s plans to secure licenses to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, but subsequently withdrew the authorization. Ukraine has responded by expanding its own long-range attacks on targets inside Russia, including weapons depots, military sites and other strategic facilities, in an effort to disrupt Moscow’s capacity to sustain its strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked US President Donald Trump to help secure approval from billionaire Elon Musk to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite network for targeting military strikes inside Russia, according to people familiar with the discussions. The request came during Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump at the White House this week and was also raised in talks with US lawmakers on Capitol Hill. However, Trump did not commit to supporting the proposal, the sources said. Ukraine currently uses Starlink for communications within its own territory, including Russian-occupied areas. But Musk has not allowed the satellite system to be used for operations inside Russia. Zelenskyy has been pressing US officials for several weeks to expand Starlink's use, arguing that it would improve the accuracy of Ukraine's long-range and medium-range strikes. His request comes as Ukraine looks for alternatives to reduce its reliance on US-made Patriot air defence systems, which have become harder to obtain amid the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran. The White House, the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington and SpaceX, which owns Starlink, did not immediately comment on the matter. Allowing Starlink to be used inside Russia could also pose risks for Musk. Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported that intelligence agencies from two NATO countries believed Russia was developing an anti-satellite weapon that could target the Starlink network. The report could not be independently verified. Starlink has played a key role in supporting Ukraine's communications since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. During his visit to Washington, Zelenskyy also urged US lawmakers to continue supporting Ukraine with more Patriot systems and to move forward with a proposed agreement that would allow Ukraine to produce the air defence system under licence. Republican Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Zelenskyy stressed that wider access to Starlink would make Ukraine's longer-range weapons more accurate. "He made it clear they need Starlink for greater precision," Rounds said. Zelenskyy met lawmakers before the Senate voted to advance a new package of sanctions against Russia, with a final vote expected next week. Meanwhile, Trump appeared to step back from an earlier statement suggesting Ukraine would receive a licence to manufacture Patriot systems. Speaking to reporters at Camp David on Friday, Trump said the issue was still under discussion. "We're talking about it. But it's a hard thing to give away that kind of technology," he said. Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have improved in recent months as Ukraine has gained ground on the battlefield. Zelenskyy has also argued that the war in Ukraine is linked to tensions involving Iran. He plans to share intelligence with the United States that he says shows Russia is helping Iran use satellite surveillance to target US military bases in the Middle East. He also told US lawmakers that Ukraine is ready to share its expertise in drone warfare with the United States, highlighting its experience in countering Russian attacks.

Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russia overnight, with Russian authorities claiming their air defenses shot down 660 drones across 12 regions, the Russia-controlled Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on Friday. The attack appeared to be one of the biggest drone offensives by Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than four years ago. Russia previously reported intercepting 556 Ukrainian drones in its largest recorded attack on May 17 this year. Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to hit targets far inside Russian territory, including oil and energy facilities, in an effort to weaken Russia's military operations. Western officials and analysts say the strikes have disrupted fuel supplies and military logistics, putting additional pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian authorities released few details about the overnight attack. The Russian Defense Ministry did not say which sites were targeted or whether any major damage was caused. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said its drones struck Russian navy vessels and air defense radar systems in Kerch, a key port city in Crimea. According to the agency, the targets included the reconnaissance and mine-laying ships Volga and Vyatka, as well as the cargo-passenger ferry Petropavlovsk. The SBU claimed the strikes triggered a large fire, although the claim could not be independently verified. The latest drone offensive came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that he had ordered a "40-day influence operation," which is believed to involve stepping up attacks to pressure Russia into ending the war after months of stalled US-led peace efforts. Recent successful drone strikes, including attacks on targets in Moscow and St. Petersburg, have boosted morale in Ukraine. Zelenskyy also said he secured fresh promises of military support from leaders at the recent G7 summit, including US President Donald Trump. He said the additional assistance would strengthen Ukraine's efforts to push Russia toward peace negotiations. A NATO summit scheduled for next month is also expected to discuss further military support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia is redeploying a large portion of its air defense systems to protect key locations, including Moscow, as Ukrainian long-range drone attacks continue to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. In a video address late Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Russia has strengthened defenses around Moscow, the town of Valdai, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has a residence, and the Kerch Bridge, a crucial supply route linking mainland Russia with Crimea. According to Zelenskyy, hundreds of air defense missile launchers have been concentrated around Moscow, while nearly 90 launchers have reportedly been moved to Valdai from other regions. Ukraine has significantly increased drone strikes on Russian military and energy facilities in recent months. Kyiv says the attacks have disrupted fuel supplies and military logistics, creating additional challenges for Russian forces more than four years into the war. Ukrainian drones have recently targeted Moscow and St. Petersburg, while Kyiv is also seeking to weaken Russian control over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Zelenskyy suggested that the redeployment of air defense systems could leave other parts of Russia more exposed to Ukrainian drone attacks. He said Ukraine's latest generation of drones can travel more than 1,500 kilometers. "There are growing difficulties for Russia because Putin continues to reject proposals for meaningful talks and a peaceful settlement," Zelenskyy said. Trump praises Zelenskyy US President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized Zelenskyy, offered rare praise for the Ukrainian leader on Wednesday. Speaking at the White House, Trump described Zelenskyy as "courageous" and said he was "doing pretty well" in the conflict. Zelenskyy said he secured commitments for continued international support during the recent G7 summit and expressed hope that additional military assistance would strengthen Ukraine's campaign against Russia. He added that Ukraine's operations, including those targeting Crimea, had been carefully planned and could increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace negotiations. Ukraine watching Belarus closely Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian intelligence believes Belarus has switched off signal relay equipment that Kyiv claims was used to help guide Russian drones toward targets in Ukraine. Last week, Ukraine demanded that Belarus remove the equipment and warned it could take action if the systems remained operational. Despite the reported shutdown, Zelenskyy said concerns remain about Belarus, which allowed Russian forces to use its territory during the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday ordered mandatory evacuations from communities in the northern Chernihiv region near the Belarus border starting July 1. Meanwhile, the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko continues to balance relations between Moscow and Kyiv, while avoiding direct involvement in the war. Ukraine's military chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently said the country is strengthening defenses along its northern border and establishing new drone units in the area. Russian strikes hit gas stations in Ukraine Russia launched one ballistic missile and 90 attack drones overnight, according to Ukraine's air force. A Russian drone strike hit a gas station in the northeastern Sumy region on Thursday morning, injuring four people, including two employees, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said. He added that Russian forces have targeted gas stations in the region 13 times this month. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, another overnight Russian attack injured a woman and damaged a gas station, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defense systems shot down 269 Ukrainian drones between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Several Russian airports also temporarily restricted flights during the attacks.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved three separate proposals including the import of urea fertiliser from Russia under the direct procurement method and agreements related to a Chinese-backed economic zone in Chattogram. The approvals came at a meeting of the committee following consideration of proposals submitted by the Industries Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office. Finance Minuster Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting held at  Secretariat. The fertiliser import proposal was placed by the Industries Ministry. The committee also approved the signing two agreements with Bangladesh CEIZ Company Limited, a Special Purpose Company (SPC) formed for the establishment of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) at Anwara upazila in Chattogram district. The proposal, submitted by the Prime Minister’s Office, sought approval for the Development Agreement and the Land Lease Agreement to be signed with the company. The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone is expected to attract foreign investment, facilitate industrialisation and generate employment opportunities in the region. The project is considered one of the majoBr angladesh-China economic cooperation initiatives. The committee also gave nod to another proposal submitted by the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the establishment of a Free Trade Zone. The proposal concerns approval of the portion recommended by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) based on a report submitted by the committee formed to examine matters related to the establishment of a free trade zone.

Bangladesh is in discussion with Russia to enhance manpower, sending up to 100,000 workers within the next year. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman made a proposal to the Russian authorities on Monday who agreed to work on it expeditiously. Currently, nearly 10,000 Bangladeshis are working in Russia, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides are expected to complete necessary formalities in this regard soon. Earlier in his bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister discussed to increase bilateral trade volume and requested Russian government for duty free quota free (DFQF) market access to Bangladesh’s products and urged steps for fast-track registration process for Bangladeshi products. He requested Russia in invest in special economic zones and Hi-Tech parks in Bangladesh including in emerging sectors such as light-to-heavy engineering, food and agro-processing, petrochemicals, steel manufacturing, IT, etc.    Dr Khalilur requested Russia to support Bangladesh for concluding an FTA between Bangladesh and Eurasia Economic Commission (EEC).  Currently, EEC has five members namely Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In addition, both sides agreed that the trade volume between Bangladesh and Russia is well below the potential. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur emphasised the prospect of rapidly increasing Bangladeshi exports, particularly readymade garments and pharmaceuticals to the Russian market. In this regard, the Russian side welcomed the proposal to host a business delegation from Bangladesh in the coming weeks. The issue of cooperation in the area of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), came up prominently during the visit. The Foreign Minister proposed that a delegation on the application of AI in agriculture and health should visit Bangladesh, to which the Russian authorities readily agreed.  The Russian authorities also expressed interest in assisting Bangladesh in preparing its national AI policy and establishing institutions of excellence in AI in Bangladesh. Dr Khalilur held an official bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Monday. The two leaders discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and their wider engagement and cooperation in the regional and international forums including the United Nations.  Both leaders recollected their friendship began four decades ago when they were representatives of their respective countries to the United Nations. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur recalled the historic contribution of the former USSR during Bangladesh’s Liberation War. The former USSR was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh. Both the Foreign Ministers looked forward to the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relation in 2027. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated their vows to widen and strengthen bilateral relations with Bangladesh. He warmly congratulated Bangladesh Foreign Minister for being elected as the President of the 81st Session of the UNGA.  Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur thanked Russia for its support to his UNGA Presidency candidature. During the meeting, the two leaders took stock of bilateral cooperation in sectors and areas such as industry, power & energy, agriculture, research & technology, culture, education, tourism, transport and defence and resolved to expand and deepen cooperation in these areas.  He sought Russian support for Bangladesh to be an official member of BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to which Russian Foreign Minister replied positively. Thanking the government of Russia for the fuel loading of the first unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister requested Russian Foreign Minister to extend full support in expediting the commissioning of the second unit as planned.

Armenia goes to the polls on Sunday in a high-stakes parliamentary election widely seen as a decision on the country’s geopolitical direction, as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pushes for closer ties with the European Union and the United States despite long-standing links with Russia. Analysts say Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party is still the frontrunner to retain control of parliament. However, several opposition groups campaigning on pro-Russia platforms have turned the vote into a broader contest over Armenia’s international alignment. In the run-up to the election, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials have warned that deeper cooperation with the EU could severely damage Armenia’s economy by disrupting trade with Moscow and its allies. “This is the first time in Armenia’s history where geopolitical orientation has become a decisive issue,” said analyst and former MP Mikayel Zolyan, speaking from Yerevan. “Armenia was long assumed to be within Russia’s sphere of influence. Now that is being questioned.” Strained ties after Karabakh conflict Relations between Yerevan and Moscow deteriorated sharply after Azerbaijan took full control of the Karabakh region in 2023. Armenia had supported ethnic Armenian forces there for decades in a long-running conflict. Armenian officials accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to prevent the Azerbaijani advance. Russia rejected the claim, saying its forces had no mandate to intervene, as it was preoccupied with the war in Ukraine. “The idea of Russia as Armenia’s security guarantor collapsed after the Karabakh war,” said Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan. Since then, Pashinyan has taken cautious steps away from Moscow, including joining the International Criminal Court in 2023 and suspending participation in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization in 2024. Armenia has also announced its intention to pursue EU membership and hosted the European Political Community summit in Yerevan in May. A strong electoral mandate for Pashinyan would allow him to continue this Western shift and advance a potential peace deal with Azerbaijan. Western support and incentives Western countries have highlighted potential benefits of closer cooperation. In August, US President Donald Trump hosted Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict, including plans for a new transit corridor linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave. A separate February agreement could allow a US firm to build a new nuclear reactor in Armenia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also pledged EU support for Armenia’s energy sector and growing digital industry. Trump has publicly backed Pashinyan, calling him a “great friend” and praising his leadership in making Armenia “strong, wealthy, and very secure.” Opposition favors closer Russia ties Armenia’s opposition remains largely pro-Russia and critical of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. Several leaders have called for Pashinyan’s resignation over the loss of Karabakh. A total of 19 political forces, including two blocs and 17 parties, are contesting the election. Pashinyan’s main challenger is the Strong Armenia Party, which advocates closer economic ties with Russia and accuses the prime minister of risking conflict with Moscow. It is led by Armenian-Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently on trial over alleged calls to overthrow the government. He denies the charges. Former President Robert Kocharyan also leads the Hayastan bloc, which accuses Pashinyan of damaging ties with Russia. Moscow’s economic pressure Russia, which maintains a military base in Armenia, has warned that a Western pivot could carry serious political and economic consequences. Putin has compared Armenia’s path to Ukraine’s, suggesting EU aspirations could trigger instability. Russian officials have also tightened import rules on Armenian goods, including flowers, wine, cognac, vegetables and dried fruits. Armenia’s membership in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union has also come under review, with discussions of possible suspension. At a recent meeting in Kazakhstan, Russia and its allies even called for Armenia to hold a referendum on whether it should remain in the bloc or pursue EU membership. Pashinyan has rejected the idea. Government data shows 38% of Armenia’s exports in 2025 went to Eurasian Economic Union countries, mostly Russia, while only 8% went to the EU. In response to Moscow’s measures, the EU announced a 50 million euro support package for Armenia, with von der Leyen accusing Russia of “weaponizing” economic ties. Growing uncertainty and interference concerns Russia’s influence remains strong, particularly through energy supplies and infrastructure control, including discounted gas exports. “Armenia cannot realistically escape Russian influence in the short term,” analyst Zolyan said. Meanwhile, civil society groups have raised concerns about Russian-backed disinformation campaigns ahead of the vote. Moscow denies any interference. Daniel Ionnisyan of the Union of Informed Citizens told the Associated Press that monitoring groups have documented suspected Russian-linked activity, including social media manipulation, cyberattacks, vote buying and pressure on journalists. Similar concerns were raised by a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which reported evidence of foreign interference aimed at influencing Armenia’s political process. “These hybrid tactics aim not only to shape public opinion but to secure long-term geopolitical leverage over Armenia,” the delegation said.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and President-elect of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly Dr Khalilur Rahman will visit Russia on June 7-9, said the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Moscow welcomes the intention of the president-elect to give priority to defending the interests of the Global South and East, to promote the rapid achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, to enhance the effectiveness of the General Assembly, and, more broadly, to help restore the UN’s central coordinating role in world affairs,” said the Russian government. The Russian side is committed to constructive and fruitful cooperation with Dr Khalilur, including during his official visit to Russia on June 7-9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, however, has not made any official announcement regarding the visit. Dr Khalilur said he is assuming the role “with humility and respect” at a time when confidence in the international system is under considerable strain. His presidency will coincide with one of the most significant processes on the UN calendar, the selection of a successor to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term concludes on December 31, 2026. The 81st session of the General Assembly will open on September 8, with world leaders scheduled to gather at UN Headquarters in New York two weeks later for the annual high-level debate. In a secret-ballot election, Dr Khalilur secured 99 votes while Andreas Kakouris of Cyprus received 91. A total of 190 ballots were cast, with no invalid votes or abstentions.