United News of Bangladesh

Two Chinese scientists accused of smuggling or shipping biological material into the United States for use at the University of Michigan will remain in custody after waiving their right to a hearing Friday in federal court. Yunqing Jian and Chengxuan Han said in separate court appearances in Detroit that they would not challenge the government's request to keep them locked up while their cases move forward. “This is a constantly evolving situation involving a large number of factors,” Han's attorney, Sara Garber, told a judge. She didn't elaborate and later declined to comment. Han was arrested Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan lab, and is accused of shipping biological material months ago to laboratory staff. It was intercepted by authorities. The FBI, in a court filing, said the material is related to worms and lacked a government permit. Experts told The Associated Press it didn't appear to be dangerous. Jian's case is different. She is charged with conspiring with her boyfriend, another scientist from China, to bring a toxic fungus into the U.S. Fusarium graminearum can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice. The boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, was turned away at the Detroit airport last July and sent back to China after authorities found red plant material in his backpack. UN conference on Palestinian state postponed because of Middle East tensions Jian, who worked at the university lab, was arrested June 2. Messages between Jian and Liu in 2024 suggest that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the lab before Liu was caught at the airport, the FBI said. Jian's attorneys declined to comment Friday. Federal authorities so far have not alleged that the scientists had a plan to unleash the fungus somewhere. Fusarium graminearum is already prevalent in the U.S. — particularly in the east and Upper Midwest — and scientists have been studying it for decades. Nicknamed “vomitoxin” because it’s most known for causing livestock to throw up, it can also cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache and fever in animals and people. Researchers often bring foreign plants, animals and even strains of fungi to the U.S. to study them, but they must file certain permits before moving anything across state or national borders. The university has not been accused of misconduct. It said it has received no money from the Chinese government related to the work of the three scientists. In a statement, it said it strongly condemns any actions that “seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university’s critical public mission.”  

India’s aviation regulator has ordered sweeping safety inspections on all Boeing Dreamliner aircraft operated by Air India, following a devastating crash in Ahmedabad that claimed the lives of at least 265 people. The incident, involving a Boeing 787 aircraft on the Ahmedabad–London route, has cast a fresh spotlight on the safety of the American-made Dreamliners. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that beginning Sunday, 15 June, all aircraft under Air India’s Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet will undergo an “enhanced safety inspection.” The measures come amid mounting public concern and technical scrutiny of the aircraft’s reliability. The DGCA directive outlines a range of mandatory inspections, focusing on critical flight and engine systems. These include: Monitoring of fuel parameters and associated systems Inspection of the cabin air compressor system Testing of the electronic engine control system Operational test of engine fuel-driven actuators and oil systems Serviceability checks of the hydraulic systems Review of aircraft take-off parameters Besides, power assurance checks are to be carried out within two weeks, while a new ‘Flight Control Inspection’ protocol will be introduced. The aviation body has also directed an immediate review of all repetitive snags reported in Dreamliner operations over the past 15 days. Maintenance teams have been instructed to resolve these issues as a matter of urgency. Air India's sole crash survivor narrates his escape This series of actions follows the fatal crash of Air India Flight 171, which slammed into a residential hostel for doctors shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Of the passengers and crew on board, only one person survived, marking the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011. The aircraft involved was powered by General Electric’s GenX engines, which will now be subject to additional checks as part of the safety campaign. While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, the spotlight has inevitably returned to long-standing concerns about the Dreamliner’s structural integrity. In 2024, a Boeing engineer raised alarms over potential issues in the aircraft’s design and manufacturing, but no direct link has yet been established between those warnings and the recent Air India disaster. In a brief statement, Boeing said it is "in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171" and that it "stands ready to support them" through the ongoing investigation and inspection process. The Civil Aviation Ministry has assured the public that safety remains the paramount priority, and it will review all inspection reports submitted by Air India as part of its regulatory oversight. As the aviation community awaits the findings of the crash probe, the incident has reignited debate about Boeing’s quality control processes and Air India’s maintenance standards, at a time when both the airline and the manufacturer are under increasing global scrutiny. Source:  With inputs from India today

At least 290 people are dead after a passenger plane crashed on departure at an airport in Ahmedabad, India, health officials said. The plane, en route to London, hit a hostel for doctors when it crashed, and images show its tail protruding from the building. The death toll includes people on the plane and others on the ground, police said. Sole survivor: A total of 241 of the 242 people aboard the Air India flight were killed in the crash, the airline said. A single British national passenger survived. Boeing’s response: The plane was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, according to Flightradar24. It’s the first major incident involving the aircraft. Boeing said it is ready to support Air India. Safety record: Air India has seen a few rare but high-profile plane crashes through the years. Previous accidents have spurred Indian authorities to improve its safety and infrastructure, but challenges remain. Investigation: India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation, according to Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. Aviation officials from the US and UK are sending investigators to assist with the probe. Boeing chief offers “full support” to India: Boeing’s president and CEO Kelly Ortberg said he spoke to Air India Chair N. Chandrasekaran after the crash. He said he offered the chair “our full support” and told him “a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” according to a statement. A look at Boeing's recent troubles after Air India crash Video shows sole survivor walking away from site of plane crash Video appears to show the sole survivor walking away from the rubble after an Air India flight carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members crashed, killing all on board except him. The British family of the sole survivor of the Air India crash have spoken to him from his hospital bed, where he said he is “fine.” Air India confirmed the British man of Indian origin, named by the Hindustan Times as Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was the only survivor on the plane carrying 242 people. Ramesh was sitting next to his brother on the flight, his cousin Ajay Valgi told reporters on Thursday outside their family home in Leicester in England’s Midlands. “Yes at least the family is happy that he’s ok but we’re still upset about the brother,” Valgi said. “We are absolutely upset (about) things, not just because he’s our brother, but (because of) other people as well. There were 242 people on the flight, so obviously it’s not good news is it?” the cousin added. Boeing CEO Cancels Plan to Attend Paris Air Show Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has canceled plans to attend the Paris Air Show next week following the crash of the 787-8 Dreamliner in India, Reuters reported Thursday. Ortberg said the company will fully support the US National Transportation Safety Board and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in their investigative process, according to Reuters. INDIA'S FIRST CRASH SINCE 2020 Ahmedabad Airport, which suspended all flight operations after the crash, said it was operational again but with limited flights. The airport is operated by India's Adani Group conglomerate. The last fatal plane crash in India, the world's third largest aviation market and its fastest growing, was in 2020 and involved Air India Express, the airline's low-cost arm. Air India Crash: Prof Yunus expresses solidarity with India The airline's Boeing-737 overshot a "table-top" runway in southern India, skidded and plunged into a valley, crashing nose-first into the ground and killing 21 people. The formerly state-owned Air India was taken over by Indian conglomerate Tata Group in 2022, and merged with Vistara - a joint venture between the group and Singapore Airlines – in 2024. Source: With inputs from agencies

The crash of a Boeing 787 passenger jet in India minutes after takeoff on Thursday is putting the spotlight back on a beleaguered manufacturer though it was not immediately clear why the plane crashed. The Air India 787 went down in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad with more than 240 people aboard shortly after takeoff, authorities said. It was the first fatal crash since the plane, also known as the Dreamliner, went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. Boeing shares fell more than 5% in pre-market trading. According to AP, the 787 was the first airliner to make extensive use of lithium ion batteries, which are lighter, recharge faster and can hold more energy than other types of batteries. In 2013 the 787 fleet was temporarily grounded because of overheating of its lithium-ion batteries, which in some cases sparked fires. 737 Max The Max version of Boeing's best-selling 737 airplane has been the source of persistent troubles for Boeing after two of the jets crashed. The crashes, one in Indonesia in 2018 and another in Ethiopia in 2019, killed 346. The problem stemmed from a sensor providing faulty readings that pushed the nose down, leaving pilots unable to regain control. After the second crash, Max jets were grounded worldwide until the company redesigned the system. Air India Crash: One survivor found as 241 feared dead Last month, the Justice Department reached a deal to allow Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the Max before the two crashes. Worries about the plane flared up again after a door plug blew off a Max operated by Alaska Airlines, leading regulators to cap Boeing's production at 38 jets per month. Financial woes Boeing posted a loss of $11.8 billion in 2024, bringing its total losses since 2019 to more than $35 billion. The company's financial problems were compounded by a strike by machinists who assemble the airplanes plane at its factories in Renton and Everett, Washington, which halted production at those facilities and hampered Boeing’s delivery capability. For the first three months of 2025, Boeing reported a narrower loss of $31 million compared with the previous year. CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing made progress on stabilizing operations during the quarter. Orders and deliveries The stepped-up government scrutiny and the workers’ strike resulted in Boeing's aircraft deliveries sliding last year. Boeing said it supplied 348 jetliners in 2024, which was a third fewer than the 528 that it reported for the previous year. The company delivered less than half the number of commercial aircraft to customers than its main rival Airbus, which reported delivering 766 commercial jets in 2023. Still, Boeing's troubles haven't turned off airline customers from buying its jets. Last month the company secured big orders from two Middle Eastern customers. The deals included a $96 billion order for 787 and 777X jets from Qatar, which it said was the biggest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company's.

In one of India’s worst aviation disasters, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, leaving 241 feared dead. Authorities confirmed that a single passenger has miraculously survived the crash and is undergoing treatment in hospital. According to Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik, the lone survivor was seated in 11A and is currently receiving medical care. “One survivor has been found in the hospital and is under treatment. We cannot confirm the final death toll yet, as rescue operations are still ongoing,” he told ANI. According to BBC, Ahmedabad's police chief said that 204 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. A look at Boeing's recent troubles after Air India crash It's not known if all 204 were on the plane, or if some were on the ground when the plane crashed. The ill-fated Flight 171 was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport with 232 passengers and 10 crew members on board, including 53 British nationals and 11 children. The aircraft crashed into a residential building in the city’s outskirts and burst into flames, sending plumes of thick smoke over the densely populated area.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of a London-bound Air India passenger plane in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, which was carrying 53 British nationals. “The scenes emerging of a London-bound plane carrying many British nationals crashing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad are devastating,” Starmer said in a statement on Thursday. Modi called the crash “heartbreaking beyond words.” “In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected,” he said in a social media post. Black smoke were seen billowed from the site where the plane went down in a populated area near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city of more than five million and the capital of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Air India’s London-bound flight crashes near Ahmedabad Airport, with 242 on board Additionally, Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell told the House of Commons that the UK government would provide all necessary support to those affected by the crash. “This is an unfolding story, and it will undoubtedly be causing a huge amount of worry and concern to the many, many families and communities here and those waiting for the arrival of their loved ones,” she said. “We send our deepest sympathy and thoughts to all those families, and the government will provide all the support that it can with those in India and those in this country as well,” she added. After the crash, firefighters doused the smoking wreckage of the plane, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after takeoff, and adjacent multistory buildings with water. Many charred bodies lay on the ground and one was carried away on a stretcher by first responders. Officials in India confirmed there were no known survivors from the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff. The plane, carrying over 240 people, went down in a populated area near Ahmedabad airport, sending thick black smoke into the sky. “It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” Police Commissioner G.S. Malik said, reports AP. “As the plane has fallen in a residential area which also had offices, some locals would have also died,” he added. "Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained.” Britain shares close ties with India, home to nearly 1.9 million people of Indian descent, according to the UK’s 2021 census. The crash comes just days before the Paris Air Show, a major aviation industry event. It also adds to ongoing scrutiny of Boeing aircraft following previous deadly incidents involving the Boeing 737 Max model.

Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is currently non-operational, with all flight operations suspended until further notice, a spokesperson confirmed today. The suspension follows a tragic incident involving Air India Flight AI171, which was travelling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The aircraft, carrying 242 people on board, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in western India. According to Air India, the flight included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, one Canadian national, and seven Portuguese nationals. Air India’s London-bound flight crashes near Ahmedabad Airport, with 242 on board Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that the last signal from the aircraft was received at an altitude of 625 feet (190 metres), “just seconds after take off.” Eyewitness videos from the area show black smoke rising over a nearby residential neighbourhood, adding to concerns over the severity of the crash. Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the cause of the accident or the condition of those on board. Emergency response teams are currently at the scene. Source: BBC

Turkey will export 48 of its nationally produced KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday, marking the first export deal for the advanced aircraft that is still in the development stage. The 48 KAAN fighter jets would be manufactured in Turkey and exported to Indonesia, Erdogan said in an X post, adding that Indonesia’s “local capabilities” would be integrated into the production process. The Turkish leader did not elaborate or disclose the agreement's financial details. The deal came on the sidelines of the defense industry exposition, Indo Defence 2025, in Jakarta, Turkey’s Sabah newspaper reported. “This agreement showcases the progress and achievements of our domestic and national defense industry,” Erdogan said. He also praised Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his role in securing the agreement. Bangladesh seeks aerospace partner, eyes win-win cooperation with Turkey Subianto on Wednesday also witnessed Indonesia’s Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Turkish Defense Industry Secretary Haluk Gorgun sign the KAAN purchase plan agreement, the State Secretariat Ministry said. Analysts consider Indonesia’s defense a priority for Subianto. He wants to expand the military by buying submarines, frigates and fighter jets and initiate more defense cooperation with various countries. “No sane nation wants war,” Subianto said in his opening speech at the four-day arms exhibition. “But history has taught us that a nation that does not want to invest in its defense (system) will lose its independence and become a slave nation,” he said. Request for comments and financial details about Erdogan’s announcement has yet to receive a response from the Defense Ministry. However, local media reports said the agreement is worth $10 billion. Indonesia has embarked on a drive to upgrade and modernize its arsenal and strengthen the domestic defense industry. Subianto has crisscrossed the globe since he was appointed defense minister in 2019, traveling to China, France, Russia, Turkey and the U.S. in a bid to acquire new military weapon systems and surveillance and territorial defense capabilities. The Indonesian Air Force operates a mix of fighter jets made in different countries, including the U.S., Russia and Britain. Some of the aircraft have reached or are approaching the phase when they will need to be replaced or upgraded. Turkey’s first indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet, the KAAN successfully completed its maiden flight in 2024. Its first units are expected to be delivered in 2028. The deal came amid growing economic and defense ties between Turkey and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the countries agreed on the joint development of a Baykar combat-drone factory in Indonesia. Pakistan and Azerbaijan, which also have strong defense ties with Turkey, are reported to be interested in purchasing KAAN fighters.

Delhi remained gripped by a severe heatwave on Wednesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the capital. Temperatures across various parts of the city ranged between 40.9°C and 45.0°C, while the heat index—which factors in both temperature and humidity—climbed to a sweltering 51.9°C. However, some relief is on the horizon for northwest India, with the IMD forecasting a drop in temperatures starting June 14. While the heatwave persists in areas like West Rajasthan and its surroundings, the department expects temperatures to ease gradually from mid-June. In its latest update on X, the IMD said: “No significant change in maximum temperatures likely over East India during the next 24 hours, followed by a gradual fall of 2–3°C over the next three days, with stability thereafter. No significant changes expected over the rest of the country.” Delhi May See Cooler Weather Post June 13 An IMD official indicated that temperatures in Delhi could decline after Friday, possibly due to an approaching western disturbance. “The intense heat will likely persist through Thursday. A western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India from the night of June 13, potentially bringing light showers and thunderstorms to Delhi,” PTI quoted senior IMD scientist Naresh Kumar as saying. India braces for hotter summer with increased heatwave days: Weather Office As per IMD data recorded at 5:30 pm, Ayanagar was the hottest part of Delhi at 45°C, followed by Palam (44.5°C), Ridge (43.6°C), Pitampura (43.5°C), Lodi Road (43.4°C), Safdarjung (43.3°C), and Mayur Vihar (40.9°C). Although the red alert remains in effect for Delhi today, forecasters expect conditions to ease beginning Friday night. Meanwhile, Delhi registered its highest electricity demand of the summer—8,231 MW—at 10:55 pm on Wednesday, according to real-time data from the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), PTI reported. Punjab on Red Alert for June 12–13 Punjab also continues to face extreme heat, with dry conditions and above-normal temperatures persisting. The IMD has issued a red alert for June 12 and 13, advising people to take precautions against heat-related health risks. “Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist across northwest India, including the western Himalayan region, until June 13 and gradually subside thereafter,” stated the IMD bulletin. Southern States Expect Heavy Rainfall In contrast to the scorching north, parts of southern India are expected to experience significant rainfall. Humanitarian funding for heatwave victims: EU providing Bangladesh Tk 2.22 crore Heavy Rain Alert for 10 Telangana Districts The IMD has issued a heavy rain warning for 10 districts in Telangana on June 12. These include Adilabad, Kumaram Bheem Asifabad, Jagtial, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal. The bulletin also mentioned the likelihood of isolated thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds across all districts in the state. Karnataka to Receive Rain Till June 17 The southwest monsoon, which had briefly weakened, has regained strength and brought rainfall to various parts of Karnataka since Thursday morning. According to the IMD, most districts are expected to see “widespread” rain over the next seven days. Coastal and north interior Karnataka will continue to receive heavy rain through June 17, while south interior Karnataka is forecasted to see “fairly widespread” showers until June 14, intensifying to “widespread” rainfall over the following three days. Source: With inputs from Hindustan Times 

Taiwan was struck by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake Tuesday evening, the United States Geological Survey reported. The earthquake was detected about 71 kilometers (44.1 miles) south of Hualien City at a depth of 31.1 kilometers (19.3 miles), the agency said. Hualien is relatively thinly populated compared to the highly congested western side of the island of 23 million people, which is frequently struck by quakes. The quake hit seconds after cell phone alarms went off at 7:01 p.m. Buildings in the capital of Taipei shook for about a minute. There were no immediate reports of major damage. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration gave the magnitude as 6.4. Such variations are common given differences in sensitivity and detector locations. 5.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Turkish Mediterranean coast, injuring 7 people Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean from Chile to New Zealand where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. Taiwan’s worst modern quake, a 1999 magnitude 7.7 temblor that killed 2,415 people, damaged buildings and led to tightened building codes, better response times and coordination and widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety. Schools and workplaces hold earthquake drills, while cellphones buzz whenever a strong earthquake is detected. Earthquake damage since then has been significantly reduced.