United News of Bangladesh

China created 12.1 million urban jobs in the first 11 months of 2025, meeting its full-year target of over 12 million a month ahead of schedule, official data showed on Tuesday. Over the same period, the average surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, better than the annual target of about 5.5 percent, according to data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Central to household livelihoods and social stability, employment has remained high on China's policy agenda, with authorities introducing comprehensive measures to support job growth.

One of the two attackers behind the deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which left 15 people dead during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, was originally from Hyderabad and had been living in Australia for nearly three decades, Indian police said on Tuesday. The suspect, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by Australian police during the attack. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, who authorities say carried out the assault alongside him, survived and is currently hospitalised under police guard. Australian investigators have described the incident as a terrorist attack inspired by the so-called Islamic State group. The Director General of Police of India’s Telangana state said Sajid Akram was a native of Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in November 1998 on a student visa. He had completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Hyderabad before leaving India in search of work. Police said Akram lived in Australia for about 27 years and maintained limited contact with his family in Hyderabad during that time. Senior Telangana police officials said there was no evidence of any operational or ideological link between Akram’s alleged radicalisation and India. Akram last visited Hyderabad in 2022 and continued to hold an Indian passport. His two children, a son and a daughter, were born in Australia and are Australian citizens. According to investigators, Akram’s relationship with his extended family in Hyderabad had deteriorated years ago due to family disputes, and relatives had cut ties with him long before the attack. Police said he did not attend his father’s funeral in 2017. After moving to Australia, Akram married Venera Grosso, described by police as a woman of European origin. The family settled permanently in Australia. The shooting occurred on Sunday at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most popular public locations, where families and community members had gathered for a Hanukkah event. Fifteen people were killed when gunfire broke out. Australia’s federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said on Tuesday the attack was “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State,” adding that the alleged attackers appeared focused solely on causing mass casualties without regard for the victims’ age or condition. Authorities said the attackers were a father and son. Sajid Akram was killed at the scene, while Naveed Akram was injured. Police seized a vehicle registered to the younger suspect and said they recovered improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags linked to the so-called Islamic State group. Australian police are also probing a trip the two suspects made to the Philippines in the month before the attack. The Philippine Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Sajid Akram and his son entered the country on November 1 and left on November 28. According to the BBC, Sajid Akram travelled using an Indian passport, while his son used an Australian passport. They declared Davao city as their destination and booked return flights to Sydney. Davao is located on the island of Mindanao, a region that has previously seen activity by Islamist groups such as Abu Sayyaf, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in the past. However, the Philippine military said it could not immediately verify reports that the suspects received any military-style training during their stay. Philippine security officials said militant groups in the region have been significantly weakened by long-running military operations and that there has been no recent evidence of foreign militants operating there. Australian authorities said the purpose of the Philippines trip and the locations visited by the suspects remain under investigation.   With inputs from NDTV

Dense smog shrouded India’s capital on Monday, sending air pollution to its worst levels in weeks, disrupting travel, and forcing authorities to implement strict containment measures. More than 40 flights were cancelled, dozens more delayed, and over 50 trains arriving and departing from New Delhi faced multi-hour delays, officials said. Healthcare experts warned residents to avoid outdoor activities as hospitals reported a surge in patients suffering from breathing difficulties and eye irritation. “New Delhi is like a gas chamber right now. Air purifiers offer limited relief, so the government must come up with long-term solutions,” said Naresh Dang, a physician at Max Healthcare. Delhi’s air quality has remained at the federal government’s “severe” level for the past two days, which can affect healthy individuals’ respiratory systems and seriously harm those with heart or lung conditions. Official readings on Sunday exceeded 450 at multiple monitoring stations, up from 430 on Saturday, marking the highest levels this winter, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Monday’s readings stood at 449. For reference, values below 50 are considered safe. During severe pollution, authorities advise people to stay indoors and wear N95 masks. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are urged to take extra precautions. “I have never seen such pollution before. Last year Delhi was bad, but this year it is worse. I can feel the smoke as I breathe,” said tourist Tiam Patel. To curb pollution, the government has banned construction, restricted diesel generator and vehicle use, and deployed water sprinklers. Schools and offices are allowing students and employees to stay home. Environmentalists, however, warn that these short-term measures are insufficient. New Delhi and its surrounding areas, home to over 30 million people, consistently rank among the world’s most polluted regions. Six of the world’s ten most polluted cities are in India, with New Delhi topping the list for national capitals, according to Switzerland-based IQAir. Pollution spikes each winter due to crop residue burning in nearby states, combined with cooler temperatures that trap smoke from vehicles, construction, and industry. Levels often exceed the World Health Organization’s safe limit by 20 times. “Delhi’s air is unhealthy year-round, even if it appears visibly worse from October to December,” said Vimlendu Jha, an environmentalist. Earlier this month, residents protested against the government’s inaction on air pollution. A Lancet study last year linked long-term exposure to polluted air in India to 1.5 million additional deaths annually. “Air pollution-related deaths are largely uncounted due to the lack of systematic tracking mechanisms,” said Shweta Narayan of the Global Climate and Health Alliance. In October, authorities conducted a controversial cloud-seeding experiment over New Delhi to induce rainfall and clear smog, but the effort failed to produce rain.

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced a senior figure of a prohibited Islamist party to 35 years in prison for inciting violence, more than a year after he openly urged the killing of the country’s then-chief justice, according to court officials and a defence lawyer on Tuesday. The convict, Zaheerul Hassan Shah, is a leader of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. He was taken into custody last year after a video spread on social media in which he announced a reward of 10 million rupees ($36,000) for anyone who beheaded then-Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Hardline religious groups had strongly criticised Isa after he granted bail to a member of the minority Ahmadi community who was accused in a blasphemy case. The Ahmadi faith, which emerged from Islam, was declared non-Muslim by Pakistan’s parliament in 1974. Members of the community frequently face attacks on their homes and places of worship by Sunni militant groups who view them as heretical. Defence lawyer Maqsood-ul-Haq and court officials said the anti-terrorism court in the eastern city of Lahore delivered the verdict on Monday. The sentencing comes less than two months after the Pakistani government outlawed the TLP following deadly confrontations between the party’s supporters and police during a pro-Gaza demonstration. Since those violent clashes, TLP chief Saad Rizvi has remained unaccounted for. Police claim Rizvi escaped to Pakistan-administered Kashmir amid the unrest, which erupted in early October when he was leading a march from Lahore toward Islamabad, the capital of Punjab province.   

Australian authorities on Tuesday said the deadly mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was a terrorist attack influenced by the Islamic State group, confirming long-suspected extremist motives behind one of the country’s worst acts of violence in decades. Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigators believe the attack was ideologically driven. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed the assessment, citing evidence recovered from the suspects’ vehicle, including Islamic State flags and other materials. Fifteen people were killed in the attack on Sunday, while 25 others remain hospitalized, 10 in critical condition. Three of the injured are children. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 and were attending a Jewish religious event when gunfire erupted. Police said the suspects were a father and son, aged 50 and 24. The older suspect was shot dead by police, while the younger man was taken into custody and is receiving hospital treatment. Authorities also confirmed the discovery of improvised explosive devices in a vehicle linked to the suspects. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigators are examining the pair’s recent trip to the Philippines as part of the ongoing probe. He confirmed the presence of homemade ISIS flags in the seized vehicle. The attack has intensified calls for tighter gun laws, despite Australia already having strict regulations. Albanese and several state leaders pledged further reforms after it emerged that the older suspect legally acquired multiple firearms. The prime minister also visited Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-born shop owner hailed as a hero after he tackled and disarmed one attacker during the chaos. Albanese praised his bravery, saying the nation would not be divided by terror. Lifeguards at Bondi Beach were widely commended for risking their lives to rescue people and provide first aid amid the shooting. In response to the tragedy, thousands of Australians gathered at memorials, while blood donation centers reported record sign-ups, reflecting a nationwide outpouring of grief and solidarity.

Jimmy Lai, the outspoken pro-democracy media entrepreneur and longtime critic of Beijing, was convicted Monday in a landmark national security case in Hong Kong, a ruling that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison. A panel of three handpicked judges found the 78-year-old guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, as well as conspiring to publish seditious materials. Lai had denied all the charges. Lai was first arrested in August 2020 under the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing following the massive 2019 anti-government protests. He has remained in custody for nearly five years and has already been jailed over several lesser offenses, during which time he has appeared increasingly frail. His wife, son and Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen were present in court as Lai briefly acknowledged his family before being led away by guards. The closely watched, jury-free trial has drawn intense international scrutiny from the United States, Britain and the European Union, with observers viewing it as a key test of press freedom and judicial independence in the former British colony. The verdict also carries diplomatic implications, with U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer both saying they have raised Lai’s case with Beijing. Lai, founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, faces a possible life sentence under the national security law, while the sedition conviction carries a maximum two-year term. A mitigation hearing is scheduled to begin Jan. 12. Prosecutors accused Lai of orchestrating efforts to seek foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China, citing meetings with senior U.S. officials in 2019 and dozens of Apple Daily articles, messages and social media posts as evidence. The court ruled Lai was the central figure behind the conspiracies. Throughout the 156-day trial, Lai testified in his own defense and argued for freedom of expression, though concerns over his deteriorating health were repeatedly raised. Apple Daily was forced to shut down in 2021 after police raids and asset freezes. Lai was previously sentenced to five years and nine months in a separate fraud case and has also been convicted over his role in unauthorized assemblies linked to the 2019 protests. Source: AP 

A shooting near a Jewish gathering at Bondi Beach on Sunday left 12 people dead and 29 others injured, including two police officers in serious condition, New South Wales authorities said. NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed one of the attackers was killed at the scene and the second is in custody, describing the attack as targeted against the Jewish community, Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared the incident a terrorist attack, noting that over 1,000 people had gathered to celebrate Hanukkah when the shooting occurred. Many victims were forced to take cover behind buildings, vehicles, and natural barriers. Authorities said there is no longer an active threat but urged residents to avoid the area as emergency operations continue. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with gunfire striking near women, children, and other beachgoers. One gunman, identified as Narveed Akram from Sydney’s south-west, is under investigation while police conducted raids at his home. Hospitals in Sydney treated multiple victims, several in critical condition. The attack, occurring on the first night of Chanukah, has been condemned by Jewish community leaders and federal politicians as a “terror attack” and “horrifying tragedy.” Authorities continue to investigate and secure the area.

China has announced an ambitious plan to make childbirth essentially free for parents by 2026 under national insurance guidelines. The move, revealed at a national healthcare security conference on Saturday, is part of a broader strategy to address the country's declining birth rate by reducing the financial burden of having children. 

The Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday that three Filipino fishermen were injured after Chinese coast guard vessels used water cannons and aggressive blocking tactics against Philippine fishing boats near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. According to the coast guard, at least 20 Philippine fishing boats were targeted Friday afternoon off Sabina Shoal. Two boats were damaged, while three fishermen sustained injuries during what officials described as a dangerous and unlawful assault. Chinese coast guard personnel operating smaller rubber boats also allegedly cut the anchor lines of several Philippine vessels, exposing them to strong currents and rough seas. Two Philippine coast guard ships were dispatched to assist the fishermen but encountered hazardous maneuvers from Chinese vessels. One Chinese ship reportedly came within about 35 yards of a Philippine coast guard vessel during nighttime operations, spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said during an online briefing. “The Chinese coast guard is now targeting ordinary fishermen and endangering civilian lives,” Tarriela said, condemning the actions. Despite the confrontations, the Philippine Coast Guard said it was able to reach the affected fishermen early Saturday, provide medical assistance to the injured and deliver essential supplies, indicating that tensions later subsided. China has not immediately responded to the latest incident. Beijing has consistently asserted its claims over much of the South China Sea and vowed to defend what it considers its territory, despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected China’s expansive claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. China has dismissed that ruling and continues to disregard it. The Philippine Coast Guard urged its Chinese counterpart to respect international norms and prioritize safety at sea, warning against actions that put civilian lives at risk. While the United States has no territorial claims in the South China Sea, it has reiterated that it is obligated under a mutual defense treaty to protect the Philippines if Filipino forces or vessels come under armed attack in the disputed waters. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also claimants in the long-standing maritime disputes, which remain a major regional flashpoint.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan and caused small tsunami waves but no apparent damage Friday, days after a stronger quake in the same region. Friday's quake occurred off the east coast of Aomori prefecture, in the north of Honshu, the main Japanese island, at a depth of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) at 11:44 a.m., according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which issued a tsunami advisory that was lifted about two hours later. Small waves were reported in Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures, but no serious damage or injuries were reported. The quake followed a 7.5 magnitude earthquake Monday that caused injuries, light damage and a small tsunami on Japan's Pacific coast. At least 34 people were injured in that quake, power was knocked out temporarily in places, and tsunami waves more than 2 feet (0.6 meters) above tide levels were measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture. Authorities had warned of possible aftershocks. Officials said after Monday's quake there was also a slight increase in the risk of a megaquake, at magnitude 8 or stronger, and a possible tsunami occurring along Japan’s northeastern coast from Chiba, just east of Tokyo, to the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The agency urged residents in the area to monitor their emergency preparedness, reminding them that the caution is not a prediction of such a strong earthquake. The recent quakes occurred around the area where the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.