United News of Bangladesh

Afghanistan’s historic Ariana Cinema, a cultural landmark that survived decades of war and political upheaval, has been demolished to make way for a new shopping center in downtown Kabul. Demolition work began on Dec 16, and within a week the cinema, which opened in the early 1960s, was completely torn down. The decision has sparked sadness and anger among Afghan artists and film lovers, who see the loss as another blow to the country’s cultural heritage. Afghan film director and actor Amir Shah Talash said the destruction went beyond bricks and cement. He said it symbolized the erasure of Afghanistan’s cinematic history and the struggles of artists who continued their work despite years of conflict and insecurity. The Ariana Cinema was closed after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, when authorities banned most forms of entertainment, including films and music. Cinemas across the country were ordered to shut, and the Afghan Film Administration was dissolved earlier this year. Kabul Municipality later decided to clear the site to build a commercial complex. A municipal spokesman said the area had strong commercial potential and that developing the land would help generate income and improve the city. Opened in 1963, the Ariana reflected a period of modernization under Afghanistan’s former monarchy. It later suffered heavy damage during decades of conflict and was closed under the first Taliban rule in the 1990s. After the Taliban were ousted in 2001, the cinema was rebuilt with French support and reopened in 2004. It became a popular venue for Indian films, Hollywood action movies and locally produced Afghan films during a brief revival of the country’s film industry. For many Afghans and visitors, the Ariana was more than a movie theater. It was a gathering place where people sought relief from daily hardships. Film lovers from neighboring Pakistan also traveled to Kabul to watch Indian movies during periods when such films were restricted at home. Artists say the loss of the Ariana Cinema reflects a wider decline in cultural space under current restrictions. Still, Talash said art cannot be erased completely, adding that while buildings may fall, creativity survives in people’s minds and memories.

Malaysia’s High Court on Friday convicted former Prime Minister Najib Razak in a major corruption case linked to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB state fund scandal. The court found Najib, 72, guilty of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving more than $700 million that flowed into his personal bank accounts from the 1MDB fund. His lawyers were expected to make mitigation submissions before sentencing later in the day. Najib denied wrongdoing, claiming the money was a political donation from Saudi Arabia and that he was deceived by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, widely seen as the mastermind of the scandal. The judge rejected that claim, saying evidence clearly showed the funds came from 1MDB and that documents presented to support the Saudi donation story were forged. Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah said Najib could not be portrayed as an unaware victim. He cited witness testimony showing a close link between Najib and Low, describing Low as a key intermediary and facilitator acting on Najib’s behalf in 1MDB-related transactions. The judge said Najib failed to verify the source of the huge sums and continued using the money despite clear warning signs. He also noted that Najib took steps to protect his position, including removing top officials who were investigating the scandal. The verdict marks another milestone in one of the world’s largest financial scandals, which sparked investigations in several countries and shook global markets. Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, is already in prison after being convicted in an earlier 1MDB-linked case. He began serving a 12-year sentence in 2022 for offences involving a former 1MDB unit, becoming Malaysia’s first ex-leader to be jailed. His sentence was later reduced by the Pardons Board. The 1MDB fund was set up soon after Najib took office, with him holding key oversight powers. Investigators have said billions of dollars were looted from the fund and laundered abroad to finance luxury purchases and other expenses. Najib now faces the prospect of a longer stay behind bars, while legal proceedings in other cases linked to the 1MDB scandal continue.  

South Korean prosecutors on Friday sought a 10-year prison sentence for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol in the first criminal case linked to his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024. Independent counsel Cho Eun-suk asked the Seoul Central District Court to hand down the sentence after the trial concluded on charges that include obstruction of official duties, abuse of power, falsifying official documents and destroying evidence. A verdict could come as early as next month. Yoon’s lawyers rejected the request as excessive and politically motivated, saying there were no legal grounds for such a harsh punishment. The case is the first to wrap up among seven criminal trials Yoon faces. He is also on trial for other allegations, including corruption, influence peddling and rebellion, a serious charge that can carry life imprisonment or the death penalty. The rebellion case is also nearing completion. Yoon’s declaration of martial law sent armed troops onto the streets of Seoul and sparked the country’s most severe political crisis in decades. The move lasted only hours after lawmakers entered the National Assembly and voted to overturn it. Yoon was impeached by the opposition-led parliament in December 2024 and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April. Prosecutors said Yoon blocked efforts to investigate and detain him after his impeachment by staying at his residence for weeks, raising fears of clashes between his security team and law enforcement. They described his actions as an unprecedented obstruction of official duties. Yoon also faces accusations that he bypassed a required full Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law, fabricated documents related to the decree and ordered data deleted from phones used by those involved. He has denied the charges, saying the martial law decree was meant to rally public support against the main opposition Democratic Party, which he accused of blocking his agenda. The independent counsel said a six-month investigation found Yoon had planned for more than a year to impose martial law to sideline political rivals and concentrate power. Other cases against Yoon involve claims that he ordered drone flights over North Korea to raise tensions, committed perjury in his former prime minister’s trial, interfered in an investigation into a marine’s drowning in 2023 and received free opinion polls in exchange for political favors. Yoon has denied wrongdoing in those cases as well.  

The 22.13-km Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the world's longest expressway tunnel, officially opened to traffic on Friday. Traversing the central Tianshan Mountains in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the tunnel slashes what was once a several-hour mountain drive to just 20 minutes. As a vital artery linking city clusters in northern and southern Xinjiang, the G0711 Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, including the tunnel, entered operation on the same day.

India on Tuesday successfully launched its heaviest-ever satellite, BlueBird 6, into orbit using the ‘Baahubali’ rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)-M6, from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite, developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, aims to provide direct broadband connectivity from space to ordinary smartphones without requiring any special equipment. The 43.5-metre tall rocket, supported by two S200 solid boosters, lifted off at 8:55 am from the second launch pad. After a flight of approximately 15 minutes, the BlueBird Block-2 satellite separated from the rocket and reached its intended orbit at about 520 km above Earth. Dr V Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman, said the mission “successfully and precisely injected the satellite into its orbit” and marked the third fully commercial launch of LVM3, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in heavy-lift space missions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the launch “a significant stride in India’s space sector,” noting it strengthens the country’s commercial launch presence and heavy-lift capability. The mission was carried out under a commercial agreement between NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and AST SpaceMobile. The launch was delayed by 90 seconds to avoid potential collision with space debris or other satellites, highlighting the increasing congestion in low Earth orbit. The LVM3 rocket, India’s largest three-stage launch vehicle, has previously launched Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and multiple OneWeb satellites, underlining its reliability in both national and commercial space missions.   With inputs from NDTV

India successfully test-fired its K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant in the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, significantly boosting its sea-based nuclear strike capability. The missile, capable of hitting targets up to 3,500 km away, was launched off the coast of Vishakhapatnam and is designed to carry a 2.5-ton nuclear warhead. The K-4, commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024, is the country’s longest-range sea-launched strategic weapon and is derived from the Agni-III land-based missile, modified for submarine launch. Experts said the test strengthens India’s nuclear triad, allowing ballistic missile submarines to remain undetected on extended deterrence patrols. The ‘K’ series of missiles is named in tribute to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, a key figure in India’s missile development program. The successful test marks a milestone in India’s undersea nuclear capabilities and enhances its strategic deterrence posture in the region.   With inputs from NDTV

Colombia’s government has declared an economic state of emergency, allowing President Gustavo Petro’s administration to impose taxes by decree as the country faces rising debts and the need to fund hospitals and the military. Petro issued the decree late Monday after his administration failed to secure congressional approval for a tax bill that would have raised $4 billion for the 2026 budget, a year of presidential and congressional elections. Public spending under Petro, elected in 2022, has surged beyond levels seen during the pandemic, with the national budget reaching approximately $134 billion in 2025. The decree cites the need for funds to cover fuel subsidies, health insurance payments, and about $700 million in military-related infrastructure to counter drone attacks from rebel groups. The government has not yet published the specific taxes to be imposed. Leaked documents reported by local media indicate plans for new wealth taxes on businesses and individuals, as well as higher sales taxes on alcohol, including rum and wine. Business groups have criticized the decree as authoritarian and a way to bypass Congress. Bruce Mac Master, president of Colombia’s National Association of Industrialists, called it a “flagrant abuse of the rule of law” on social media. Many analysts expect the Constitutional Court to overturn the decree, noting that Colombian law allows a state of economic emergency only in cases of “grave, imminent and unexpected” threats to the economy. Jorge Restrepo, an economics professor at Bogota’s Javeriana University, said it will be difficult for the government to justify the decree. “This was not an unexpected situation … like a war or natural disaster,” he said, referring to the budget deficit. “We knew there was a fiscal crisis brewing since the middle of last year.”  

A Malaysian court on Monday rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s request to serve the remainder of his graft sentence under house arrest, ruling that a rare royal order he cited was not valid under constitutional requirements. The High Court said the house arrest was “not a valid order” as the king’s prerogative of mercy must follow the advice of the Pardons Board and cannot be issued independently. Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the former leader was disappointed and plans to appeal the verdict. Najib, 72, is serving a six-year prison term after the Pardons Board reduced his original 12-year sentence last year. He was convicted in 2020 for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering over 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) linked to SRC International, a former unit of the 1MDB state fund. He began his sentence in August 2022, becoming Malaysia’s first ex-leader to be jailed. The court’s decision came days before a separate ruling in another graft trial, where Najib faces charges of abusing power and laundering more than $700 million from 1MDB. Conviction in that case could add decades to his sentence. Najib denies wrongdoing, claiming financier Low Taek Jho duped him; Low remains at large. The 1MDB scandal, which investigators say involved at least $4.5 billion stolen and laundered through international accounts for luxury purchases and Hollywood films, contributed to Najib’s government losing the 2018 election after ruling Malaysia since independence. Despite his conviction, he retains influence within the United Malays National Organization, now part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government.  

Thailand and Cambodia will resume negotiations later this week to establish a more durable ceasefire along their shared border, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Monday, emphasizing that progress requires detailed bilateral talks rather than public statements that internationalize the dispute. Sihasak said the October ceasefire, rushed to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit, lacked sufficient detail to ensure a lasting end to the armed conflict. He noted that while Cambodia publicly declared readiness for an unconditional ceasefire, Thailand had received no direct proposal, interpreting the statements as an effort to increase international pressure rather than resolve the crisis. The joint border committee of both nations is scheduled to meet Wednesday to work out specific measures to ensure a lasting ceasefire. “This time, let’s thrash out the details and make sure the ceasefire reflects the situation on the ground and is fully respected by both sides,” Sihasak told reporters. The border clashes intensified two weeks ago, derailing the July truce promoted by Trump, which had ended five days of fighting. The October agreement, formalized during a regional summit in Malaysia, aimed to add more detail to the truce, which included releasing prisoners and removing heavy weapons and land mines along the frontier. The conflict, stemming from disputed border territories, has killed more than three dozen people and displaced over half a million. Recent fighting involved Thai F-16 airstrikes and Cambodian BM-21 rocket attacks. Thailand has protested newly laid landmines that injured soldiers, while Cambodia claims they are remnants from its civil war. Sihasak called the new mine incidents “a clear violation” of the October agreement. Thai authorities said they discovered abandoned weapons and explosives in areas described as Cambodian strongholds, suggesting “deliberate use of anti-personnel landmines” against Thai troops. Thailand plans to send letters of protest to Cambodia and Zambia, the current chair of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, to seek action under the convention. Cambodia has not responded to the claims. The U.S. State Department on Sunday urged both countries to end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, halt new landmine placements, and fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.  

Southeast Asian foreign ministers convened Monday in Kuala Lumpur for a special meeting aimed at resolving the ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, which escalated into deadly clashes two weeks ago. The session marked the second time this year that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has provided a platform to promote de-escalation between the two member states. The recent fighting disrupted a ceasefire brokered in July under U.S. pressure, with Malaysia mediating and President Donald Trump threatening to withhold trade benefits if both sides did not agree. The truce was further detailed at an October regional summit in Malaysia attended by Trump. The conflict has drawn international concern. On Sunday, the U.S. Department of State called on Thailand and Cambodia to “end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, cease emplacement of landmines, and fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” including steps for humanitarian demining and border management. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said he discussed the situation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to a ceasefire and promising constructive engagement at the Kuala Lumpur meeting. Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn is also attending, emphasizing resolution “through all peaceful means, dialogue and diplomacy.” The dispute centers on contested territory along the shared border. The latest fighting began Dec. 8, a day after a skirmish left two Thai soldiers wounded, and has since included Thai F-16 airstrikes and Cambodian BM-21 rocket attacks. Officials report more than two dozen fatalities and over half a million displaced. MI6 chief warns of Russia’s global security challenge Under the October truce, Thailand was to release 18 Cambodian soldiers and both sides to begin removing heavy weapons and landmines. Despite this, minor cross-border violence and a propaganda war have continued. Landmine incidents remain particularly contentious, with Thailand alleging Cambodia laid new mines while Phnom Penh says they are remnants from its civil war. The Thai navy reported a marine seriously injured by a landmine and discovered abandoned weapons in a Cambodian stronghold, alleging deliberate use of anti-personnel mines. Thailand plans to send formal protests to Cambodia and Zambia, the current chair of the Ottawa Convention, for further action. Cambodia has not yet responded. Source: AP