United News of Bangladesh

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted twice on Monday, sending massive columns of volcanic ash and debris soaring into the sky, disrupting flights and covering nearby villages in ash. Authorities reported no casualties from the twin eruptions on Flores Island, where the volcano has been on the highest alert level since June 18. As activity intensified, officials expanded the exclusion zone around the 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) peak to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius. The country’s Geology Agency recorded searing clouds of gas, rocks, and lava cascading nearly 5 kilometers (3 miles) down the volcano's slopes. Drone footage revealed lava filling the crater, indicating significant underground magma movement, which also triggered earthquakes. The first eruption, which occurred shortly after 11 a.m. local time (0305 GMT), produced a towering ash plume reaching up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) — the highest since a deadly eruption in November 2024 that left nine people dead and dozens injured. The volcano had also erupted in March this year. Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Volcano Erupts, Alert Level Raised "Such a large-scale eruption poses significant dangers, including risks to aviation," said Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geology Agency. He added that authorities are considering expanding the evacuation zone for residents and tourists. A second eruption followed at around 7:30 p.m. (1100 GMT), sending lava and ash clouds up to 13 kilometers (8 miles) into the atmosphere, according to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. At least 24 international flights connecting Bali with Australia, Singapore, and South Korea were cancelled, along with several domestic flights, officials at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport confirmed. Despite the disruptions, airport operations remained normal as volcanic ash had not yet entered Bali's airspace. Ashfall from the eruptions blanketed nearby villages, darkening the sky for nearly half an hour. Residents were warned of possible lava floods triggered by heavy rain. Images circulating online showed thick ash clouds forming mushroom-like plumes, while volcanic debris covered rooftops. Some villagers were seen fleeing the area in panic. Experts believe the eruptions were fueled by a buildup of magma pressure within the crater, which initially reduced seismic signals but eventually triggered the powerful blasts. Indonesia, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with 120 active volcanoes across the archipelago of over 280 million people. Mount Lewotobi's eruption is considered one of the most significant since Mount Merapi's deadly 2010 eruption, which killed 353 people on Java Island.

At least 72 people have been killed and over 130 injured in Pakistan following ten days of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local officials said on Monday. The deaths, recorded since June 26, were reported from various parts of the country, including the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Punjab, southern Sindh, and southwestern Balochistan provinces. The NDMA has urged local officials to remain on high alert and advised tourists to avoid visiting flood-affected areas, warning that continued rainfall could block highways and trigger further flash floods. Millions lack safe water months after Pakistan floods Emergency services have been operating at maximum capacity since last month, following an incident in which 17 tourists from the same family were swept away by the Swat River in the northwest. Four of them were rescued, while the bodies of the remaining 13 were later recovered. Videos circulating online showed members of the family stranded on a rooftop, pleading for help. The footage sparked widespread outrage and accusations of a slow response by emergency crews. Authorities have warned that a repeat of the extreme weather seen during the 2022 floods cannot be ruled out. At the time, heavy rains inundated nearly a third of Pakistan, killing 1,737 people.

China's farthest offshore wind power project has achieved its first grid connection, marking a significant step forward in the country's deep-sea renewable energy development, the state-owned China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) has announced. At 3:12 a.m. Friday, during a critical period for summer electricity demand, the first batch of units from the 800-megawatt offshore wind power project in Dafeng, east China's Jiangsu Province, was successfully connected to the grid as the blades of Unit 9 began to turn, the CTGC confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday. Located northeast of Yancheng City, the Dafeng project consists of four subsites. Subsite H8-1 is the most distant, with its center located 80 kilometers offshore and its outermost point extending to 85.5 kilometers, making it the farthest grid-connected offshore wind power project in China so far. The wind farm comprises 98 wind turbines and three offshore booster stations, with a total installed capacity of 800 megawatts, according to the CTGC. Discussing the major construction challenges, Shi Shuaishuai, the project manager, noted that the site is so far offshore that it takes six to seven hours by boat to reach the construction area one way. "We faced difficulties like large ocean swells, harsh weather conditions, and seabed sediment erosion," he said, adding that the construction team often held on-site meetings to address specific issues as they arose. "We used our self-developed meteorological warning platform to precisely identify optimal weather windows. At peak periods, over 1,000 workers were working simultaneously at sea," Shi added. Liu Yu, another manager of the Dafeng project, said the wind farm is scheduled to achieve full-capacity grid connection by the end of December. It is expected to generate about 2.6 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, which is enough to meet the yearly power needs of approximately 1.1 million households with three members each, Liu added. According to a National Energy Administration (NEA) report released this January, China's newly installed wind power capacity reached 79.82 million kilowatts in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 6 percent. This includes 75.79 million kilowatts from onshore wind and 4.04 million kilowatts from offshore wind. By December 2024, the cumulative wind power grid-connected capacity in China reached 521 million kilowatts, reflecting an 18 percent year-on-year increase, with onshore wind contributing 480 million kilowatts and offshore wind contributing 41.27 million kilowatts, according to the NEA report. Globally, offshore wind energy resources exceed 71 billion kilowatts, with deep-sea areas accounting for over 70 percent. However, less than 0.5 percent has been developed, despite higher potential due to average wind speeds above nine meters per second and greater power generation hours compared to near-shore sites, the CTGC said. The Dafeng project demonstrates the feasibility of deep-sea wind power, the CTGC said, adding that the development not only provides additional green energy to support Jiangsu's economic and social growth but also holds significant importance for China's advancement into deeper offshore wind power.

The first-half 2025 media exchange program by the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) ended on Saturday on an optimistic note, emphasizing renewed shared understanding and strengthened cooperation among participants. The China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) hosted the event. Hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), the event was attended by Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei, CPDA President Wu Hailong and Zhang Jianbo, Director of the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC). A total of 119 journalists from 101 countries, who participated in the four-month program, gathered to mark the conclusion of their intensive journey across China. Addressing the journalists, Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), said that over the past four months, you have observed and covered many significant events in China. Your reports have helped introduce the world to China’s governance philosophy, diplomatic principles, and its approach to engaging with the international community. During your stay here, you traveled to 18 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Through your cameras and writing, you documented China's diverse regional development and various aspects of Chinese people's lives. I was also fortunate to share some of these unforgettable moments with you. Together, we learned how Inner Mongolia is celebrated as China’s “Dairy Capital” and “China Cloud Valley,” how efforts to combat desertification benefit not only China but the wider region, and how the China-Europe Railway Express enhances global connectivity and supports high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

China remains committed to upholding true multilateralism, pursuing win-win cooperation, and fulfilling its responsibilities as a significant stakeholder in the international community, said the country's Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei. He emphasized that China will stand alongside other developing nations to build a shared future. Hong Lei made the remarks during the reception and closing ceremony of the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) 2025, organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) on Saturday. He reaffirmed that China has always been, is, and will continue to be a member of the developing world. "We are prepared to collaborate with other Global South countries to promote sustainable development, foster peaceful coexistence among civilizations, uphold peace and stability, and work towards prosperity, peace, and progress for all," Hong Lei said. China reaffirms commitment to dialogue and cooperation following U.S. trade restrictions lift He also highlighted that, amid profound changes unseen in a century, unilateralism and protectionism are increasing. "President Xi Jinping stressed that history should progress forward, not backward; the world should unite, not divide; and humanity must avoid reverting to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should stand together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Hong Lei added. Addressing journalists, Lei said that over the past four months, you have recorded what you have seen here through the cameras in your hands and with every word you wrote. You visited several provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative regions of China, attended almost 500 (five hundred) activities, and produced some 5,000 (five thousand) news stories. "Through your activities, you have shown to the world the unfolding chapters of Chinese modernization in a multi-dimensional, multi-angled and in-depth way, and, from the Global South’s unique perspective, introduced China’s wisdom and proposals to the world," he added. China, EU aim to deepen cooperation on global issues He also remarked that your reporting has opened windows for fellow Global South countries to gain a clearer understanding of China.

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global symbol of Tibet’s struggle for cultural identity and autonomy, turned 90 on Sunday, marking the occasion with thousands of followers in the Indian Himalayan town of Dharamshala, where he has lived in exile since fleeing Chinese rule in 1959. Addressing a packed temple courtyard despite persistent rain, the Dalai Lama reflected on his life’s journey, saying, “When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all. I live my life in the service of other sentient beings.” Wearing his traditional Buddhist robe and a flowing yellow wrap, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was escorted by monks as Tibetan artists played drums, bagpipes, and cymbals in his honor. Penpa Tsering, head of the democratically elected Tibetan government-in-exile, raised the Tibetan flag as the Tibetan national anthem played. Recognized globally for his red robes and warm smile, the Dalai Lama calls himself a “simple Buddhist monk,” though millions of Tibetan Buddhists believe he is the living embodiment of Chenrezig, the Buddhist deity of compassion. Week of Celebrations and Reincarnation Plans Sunday’s event concluded a week of celebrations, during which the Nobel Peace Prize laureate confirmed he plans to reincarnate after his death, ending speculation that he could be the last Dalai Lama. He emphasized that his successor must be recognized following Buddhist traditions. The Dalai Lama also expressed his hope to live until the age of 130. US lawmakers meet with Dalai Lama in India's Dharamshala, sparking anger from China In the past, he has stated his successor will be born in the “free world,” outside China — a view that has fueled tensions. Many exiled Tibetans fear that Beijing will appoint its own Dalai Lama to tighten its grip over Tibet, which Chinese troops invaded in 1950. China regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist and insists it holds the sole authority to approve his successor. The Chinese government has repeatedly stated it will reject any spiritual leader chosen without its consent. Global Leaders and Celebrities Send Wishes World leaders and public figures sent their wishes on the occasion. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Dalai Lama as “an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience, and moral discipline,” while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised him as someone who “continues to inspire people by embodying a message of unity, peace, and compassion.” The celebrations also drew international supporters, including Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a long-time friend and advocate for Tibet. “He is the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet,” Gere told the crowd, prompting loud applause. In a birthday message shared on his website Saturday, the Dalai Lama reiterated his commitment to promoting human values, religious harmony, and compassion, while reminding followers that he remains “just a simple Buddhist monk.” Additional celebrations took place in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, where hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks, and foreign diplomats gathered for Buddhist prayers, chanting, and traditional dances. Dalai Lama apologises after video showing him kissing a child on the lips triggers criticism Decades in Exile, A Struggle for Identity The Dalai Lama was enthroned in 1937. Following China’s military intervention in Tibet during the 1950s and a failed uprising, he fled to India along with thousands of Tibetans and established a government in exile. For over seven decades, he has led the Tibetan diaspora in their ongoing struggle to preserve their cultural identity and resist Chinese control over Tibet. Throughout his life, the Dalai Lama has become one of the world’s most recognizable figures, advocating for peace, compassion, and autonomy for the Tibetan people.

Tropical Storm Chantal formed off the southeast U.S. coast and was forecast to bring heavy rains to parts of the Carolinas on Saturday. Tropical storm warnings were issued for portions of the two states, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The storm's center was located about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday night, and 120 miles (190 kilometers) south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 50 mph (85 kph), and it was moving north at 8 mph (13 kph). Tropical Storm Dalila forms and expected to bring rain to southwestern Mexico Rain bands from Chantal were moving over the coast, the hurricane center said, and the storm's center was expected to move over South Carolina overnight or early Sunday with flash floods an increasing concern. The storm was expected to weaken rapidly after landfall. Heavy rain was forecast for the coastal plain of the Carolinas through Monday — total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters), with local amounts up to 6 inches — threatening flash flooding.

A giant 26-meter (85-foot) Lego figure named Dada welcomed visitors to the new Legoland resort in Shanghai. The resort, which opened Saturday, is the first in China. It is one of 11 parks across the world and was built with 85 million Lego bricks. Among the main attractions is Miniland, which replicates well-known sights from across the world using Lego bricks. It features landmarks across China like Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and Shanghai’s Bund waterfront. There’s also a boat tour through a historic Chinese water town built with Lego bricks. “My first impression is it is a good recreation, like a real fairyland of Lego,” said Ji Yujia, a Lego fan who was there on opening day. The resort was developed in conjunction with the Shanghai government by Merlin Entertainments and the LEGO Group. Visitors were greeted by performances featuring Legoland characters. Tickets range from $44 (319 yuan) to $84 (599 yuan).  

The death toll from a collapsed multistory residential building in southern Pakistan rose to 16 as search operations to find survivors continued for the second day. Rescuers pulled 10 more bodies from the rubble during an overnight operation, officials said Saturday. According to AP, the government-run Civil Hospital said in a statement it had received the 16 bodies, adding several of the injured had been hospitalised. Rescue workers are using heavy machinery to search for at least eight more survivors believed to be trapped under the debris, according to local media and emergency officials. Indonesia finds 31 survivors as ferry sinks near Bali Residents said the building was located on a narrow street, hampering efforts to bring in additional heavy equipment. Television footage showed rescuers removing debris as relatives of those still trapped cried and prayed for the safety of their loved ones. Building collapses are common in Pakistan, where construction standards are often poorly enforced. Many structures are built with substandard materials, and safety regulations are frequently ignored to cut costs. In June 2020, an apartment building collapsed in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, killing 22 people.

Russia has become the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, drawing sharp criticism from opposition figures and rights activists. The decisin marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban nearly four years after they seized control of Kabul and re-established their rule. Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed hope that Russia’s decision would encourage other nations to follow suit. So far, most countries have hesitated to recognise the Taliban administration due to its strict interpretation of Sharia law and severe restrictions on women and girls. Critics, however, have strongly condemned Moscow’s recognition. Former Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi warned that normalising relations with the Taliban would not bring peace but rather embolden impunity. She further cautioned that such actions could endanger both Afghan citizens and global security. The Afghan Women's Political Participation Network echoed these concerns, saying the recognition legitimises a "regime that is authoritarian, anti-women, and systematically dismantling basic civil rights." The Taliban maintains that they respect women's rights within the framework of their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law. However, since they regained power in 2021, girls above the age of 12 have been barred from receiving an education, and women have been excluded from many professions. Additional restrictions include limiting women’s ability to travel without a male guardian and bans on women raising their voices in public. Russia launches largest air attack on Kyiv since war began Muttaqi described Russia’s move, announced on Thursday, as the beginning of "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement," calling the decision "courageous." Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, highlighted prospects for expanded economic cooperation with Afghanistan in sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure. The ministry also pledged continued support to Kabul in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking. Unlike many other countries, Russia kept its embassy in Kabul open after the Taliban took power in 2021, following the withdrawal of US and allied troops. In 2022, Russia also became the first country to sign a major economic agreement with the Taliban, involving the supply of oil, gas, and wheat to Afghanistan. Earlier this year, in April, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, further paving the way for official engagement. Russian President Vladimir Putin had already referred to the Taliban as an "ally" in combating terrorism during remarks made in July last year. The relationship between the two countries, however, remains complex. The Soviet Union, led by Russia, invaded Afghanistan in 1979, leading to a devastating nine-year conflict that resulted in the deaths of approximately 15,000 Soviet troops. The Soviet-backed government installed in Kabul faced international condemnation, eventually forcing a Soviet withdrawal in 1989. In response to Russia’s latest decision, the Afghan Women's Political Participation Network recalled the Soviet invasion, saying they had not forgotten Russia’s role in Afghanistan’s destruction. The group accused Moscow of continuing its harmful interference under the guise of diplomacy. Former Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta also criticised Russia's recognition, calling it "regrettable." He warned that in the absence of widespread opposition, other countries might follow Russia’s example. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, the United Nations imposed strict sanctions on Afghanistan, including the freezing of around $9 billion in assets. The UN has condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women, labelling the restrictions as "gender apartheid," while also reporting incidents of public floggings and brutal attacks on former government officials. Despite widespread international refusal to recognise the Taliban, some countries have maintained or adjusted their relations. Germany, for example, is considering re-establishing deportations of convicted Afghan criminals. Although Germany halted deportations after the Taliban’s return to power, politician Alexander Dobrindt said Thursday that Berlin should negotiate directly with Afghan authorities to resume deportations. However, the UN Human Rights Office warned on Friday that returning individuals to Afghanistan would be inappropriate, citing ongoing human rights violations under the Taliban regime. While most countries shut their embassies in Kabul after 2021, a few—including China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan—continue to maintain formal diplomatic representation by appointing ambassadors to Afghanistan. #With Inputs from BBC