United News of Bangladesh

Thousands of supporters of Myanmar’s imprisoned former leader Aung San Suu Kyi commemorated her 80th birthday on Thursday through a global campaign and nationwide demonstrations denouncing the country’s military regime. A birthday video campaign, spearheaded by activist Kalo Say Htoo, aimed to gather 80,000 video messages in tribute to Suu Kyi while also setting a new Guinness World Record. Organizers reported that submissions exceeded 103,000, surpassing the previous record of 32,207 set in 2017. Suu Kyi has been imprisoned since the military coup in February 2021, which removed her democratically elected government from power. She has been sentenced to 27 years in prison on a series of charges widely seen as politically motivated. Despite her incarceration, she remains a symbol of democratic resistance and is viewed by many as Myanmar's rightful leader. Her son, Kim Aris, who resides in London, praised the campaign in a Facebook post, calling it a powerful expression of global solidarity. “It’s my hope this achievement brings urgent attention to her plight and that of the people of Burma,” Aris said, using Myanmar’s former name. In honor of his mother, Aris pledged to run 80 kilometers and encouraged others to mark the milestone with their own "80-themed" activities. Street protests took place in regions beyond military control—including Kachin State in the north, Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway in central Myanmar, and Tanintharyi in the south. Protesters carried flowers, cakes, and posters of Suu Kyi, with banners calling for her release and the liberation of the country. Israel’s military warns people to evacuate the area around Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor Meanwhile, supporters of the military regime called for the arrest of demonstrators. Western embassies joined the observance by posting images of red roses—Suu Kyi's symbolic flower—and issuing statements urging the release of Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. In a joint statement, the Suu Foundation and French law firm Zimeray & Finelle reported that Suu Kyi may have sustained an injury to her left arm during a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar in March.

India and Canada have agreed to reinstate full diplomatic services, nearly two years after relations soured over allegations by Ottawa that New Delhi was linked to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader. The breakthrough was announced following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, on Tuesday. According to a statement from Carney’s office, both countries will appoint new high commissioners, aiming to resume normal consular and diplomatic services for their citizens and businesses. High commissioners, the equivalent of ambassadors between Commonwealth countries, play a crucial role in maintaining bilateral ties and advancing national interests abroad. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a relationship grounded in mutual respect and sovereignty. They also discussed enhanced cooperation in key areas such as technology, digital innovation, food security, and critical minerals. Expelled Indian high commissioner denies involvement in murder of Sikh leader in Canada India's foreign ministry stressed the need to resume high-level ministerial engagements to rebuild confidence and revitalize the bilateral relationship. Tensions escalated in September 2023 after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed there were credible allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. India strongly denied the accusation and accused Trudeau’s government of sheltering extremists. Nijjar, labeled a terrorist by India in 2020 under anti-terror laws, was a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement — a banned separatist campaign seeking an independent Sikh homeland. While India regarded him as a threat, several Sikh advocacy groups viewed him as a human rights defender. India protests Ottawa's allegation its home minister ordered targeting of Sikh activists in Canada Diplomatic relations deteriorated rapidly afterward. India expelled several Canadian diplomats and pulled out its high commissioner and key staff from Canada. In return, Ottawa expelled Indian diplomats and accused New Delhi of launching a campaign targeting Canadian citizens — a claim India rejected. India has long viewed Sikh separatist activities in Canada with concern, especially given that Sikhs make up around 2% of Canada’s population. Modi Briefs Trump on Kashmir Conflict Separately, Prime Minister Modi held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump after Trump made an early exit from the G7 summit. Modi shared details of India’s recent military actions against Pakistan following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindus, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Trump had previously claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between the two South Asian rivals and suggested that trade incentives had helped cool tensions. However, Modi reportedly told Trump that India has never accepted third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue — and would not in the future. Misri clarified that ongoing efforts to de-escalate the conflict were conducted directly between Indian and Pakistani military officials through existing bilateral channels, with no involvement from Washington. He also stated that no trade deals or discussions of mediation were part of the talks between Indian and U.S. officials during the crisis. Source: With inputs from agency      

In a significant development, China and five Central Asian nations have signed the Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation at the China-Central Asia Summit held in Kazakhstan. The treaty is to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship between the countries in the form of law, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a keynote speech. It is a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow," XI said while addressing the summit on Tuesday, which was attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Upholding the China-Central Asia Spirit. President Xi also hailed the China-Central Asia Spirit, which embodies mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development, reports CGTN. In 2020, China proposed the establishment of a China-Central Asia mechanism. In 2022, the countries proposed upgrading the mechanism to the level of heads of state at a virtual summit marking the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. This proposal was realized at the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in 2023 in the northwestern Chinese city of Xiran, where leaders agreed that the top-level gathering would be held every two years, alternating between China and the Central Asian countries. Two years on, the consensus at the first summit has been implemented across the board, Xi said, adding that the path of cooperation is steadily widening, and the friendship is blooming ever more brightly. A recent CGTN poll found that 30 percent of respondents believe the China-Central Asia mechanism is not about rivalry or competition but a framework for both sides to seek stability development, and future-focused cooperation To date, China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships, signed Belt and Road cooperation documents, and implemented the vision of buliding a community with a shared future at the bilateral level with all five Central Asian countries This fully demonstrates the high-level strategic mutual trust and the firm resolve to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, said Sun Werdong, secretary-general of the Secretariat of the China-Central Asia mechanism. High-Quality Development of the Belt and Road Initiative At the Astana summit, Xi called on the countries to act on the China-Central Asia Spirit, enhance cooperation with renewed vigor and more practical measures, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI), and forge ahead toward the goal of a community with a shared future for the region. It was in the capital of Kazakhstan in 2013 that Xi first laid out his vision for jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the BRI. Through this initiative, China and the region have seen robust cooperation in trade, the digital economy and connectivity. China has become the region's top trading partner and a major investment source. Data from the General Administration of Customs showed that China-Central Asia trade reached a record $94.8 billion in 2024, with Chinas cumulative investment in the region exceeding $30 billion According to the CGTN pol, 92.4 percent of respondents agree that the BRI is an important international public good that supports high-level cooperation between China and Central Asia. President Xi also urged China and Central Asia to optimize their cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, efficient and deeply integrated. Efforts should be made to focus cooperation on smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization, and personnel exchanges, and to roll out more projects on the ground, he said. In order to promote relevant cooperation, China has decided to establish three cooperation centers focusing on poverty reduction, education exchange, and desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform for smooth trade, Xi added. Cui Zheng, director of the Research Center for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asian Countries at Liaoning University, recognized the significance of the cooperation model given the current International landscape in a CGTN opinion piece. In a global environment marked by rising protectionism, the China-Central Asia partnership represents a new model of diplomatic engagement one that respects independence promotes mutual benefit and amplifies the voice of the Global South, Cui said.

Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday that the country's cumulative investment in Central Asia has now exceeded 30 billion U.S. dollars. This milestone underscores China's growing economic engagement in the region, reflecting strategic investments across infrastructure, energy, and trade sectors aimed at fostering regional development and enhancing bilateral cooperation. As the region's leading foreign investor, China has increasingly funded various sectors such as green development and the digital economy in recent years, reports CGTN. The country has also expanded cooperation in 5G networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart city initiatives, driving the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. Meanwhile, China is the major partner for Central Asian countries in project contracting. As of April 2025, China has signed 120.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of contracted projects with the heartland of the Eurasian continent, achieving a turnover of 75.6 billion U.S. dollars. Besides, the bilateral economic and trade cooperation continues to deepen. China has signed new investment agreements with Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, while also initiating negotiations on trade in services and investment agreements with Kyrgyzstan. These efforts will provide more robust institutional guarantees for trade and investment cooperation between China and Central Asian.  

As tensions escalate in the Iran-Israel conflict, the Chinese government has swiftly initiated evacuation procedures for its citizens in the affected regions. Responding to the urgent need for safety and security, China has mobilised its embassies and consulates to facilitate the safe departure of nationals from Iran and Israel. Iran fired around 20 missiles this morning: Israeli official "After the outbreak of the Israel-Iran conflict, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and Israel immediately activated the consular protection emergency mechanism," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun came up with the remarks while responding to a journalist during a briefing on Tuesday. Guo Jiakun also said that some Chinese citizens have already been safely evacuated to neighbouring countries. Abu Dhabi flights hit by Israel-Iran conflict continues The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant embassies and consulates are working closely with other departments to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Iran and Israel and are quickly organising evacuations. "Chinese citizens in Iran and Israel are advised to contact their local embassies or consulates or call the consular protection hotline at 12308," added the spokesperson. Source: CGTN

An Air India flight headed from Hong Kong to Delhi was forced to return to its departure point on Monday after the crew detected a possible technical issue while airborne. The aircraft, Flight AI315, was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. According to the airline, the decision to turn back was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety. This incident comes just days after a Lufthansa flight, LH752, traveling from Frankfurt to Hyderabad, had to return mid-route due to a bomb threat, reports Hindustan Times. Although Lufthansa cited the lack of landing clearance as the reason for the turnaround, airport officials linked it to the reported threat. The aircraft, which was scheduled to land early Monday at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, eventually returned safely to Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Air India is facing mounting criticism following the deadly crash of Flight AI171, another Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London on June 12. All 241 passengers and crew on board perished in what has become one of India’s worst aviation disasters. Grieving families and the public have voiced anger over alleged shortcomings in Air India’s safety standards, including concerns about aircraft maintenance and pilot training. In response, the government has formed a high-level investigation committee comprising experts from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and independent aviation specialists. The probe will examine technical faults, maintenance logs, and crew conduct leading up to the crash.

At least two people died and 32 others were injured after an iron bridge over a river collapsed on Sunday at a popular tourist destination in India’s western Maharashtra state, the state's top elected official said. At least six people were hospitalized in critical condition, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote on the social media platform X. Local media reported that scores of tourists were on the bridge when it collapsed, plunging many into the swollen river. Fadnavis said six people were rescued and that an intense search operation was ongoing as some people were swept away. The incident occurred in Kundamala area in Pune district, which has witnessed heavy rains over the past few days, giving the river a steady flow, Press Trust of India reported. Helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashes in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, killing 7 It was not raining when the bridge collapsed in an area frequented by picnickers, the news agency reported. Police said teams of the National Disaster Response Force and other search and recovery units have undertaken rescue operations, Press Trust said. India’s infrastructure has long been marred by safety concerns, sometimes leading to major disasters on its highways and bridges. In 2022, a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river in the western state of Gujarat, sending hundreds plunging into the water and killing at least 132 in one of the worst accidents in the country in the past decade.

A helicopter carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed early Sunday in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, killing seven people on board, officials said. The chopper was flying to Guptkashi, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site in the Himalayas, from Kedarnath temple town, when it crashed. The accident occurred within minutes after the helicopter took off, officials said, on what should have been a 10-minute flight. The crash comes three days after an Air India flight fell from the sky and killed at least 270 people in Gujarat state. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived. Nandan Singh Rajwar, a local disaster management official, said authorities have launched a rescue and search operation and are expected to review operational protocols for flights in the region. At least 290 killed in Air India crash The chopper, operated by Aryan Aviation, a private helicopter service company, went down in a forested area several kilometers (miles) from the Kedarnath pilgrimage route at around 5:30 a.m. local time. Officials said the crash was believed to have been caused by poor weather conditions. Kedarnath is home to one of the four most sacred Hindu temple shrines and receives tens of thousands of pilgrims each year during the summer season, many of whom use helicopter services due to the difficult mountainous terrain. Officials said the dead included the pilot and pilgrims from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh and western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The bodies were badly burned in a fire that followed the crash, they said. Helicopter mishaps are not uncommon in the treacherous Kedarnath region, where sudden weather changes and high-altitude flying conditions can pose risks. A look at Boeing's recent troubles after Air India crash On June 7, a helicopter operating in the Kedarnath Valley made an emergency landing on a highway due to technical fault shortly after taking off. The pilot was injured but all five passengers on board were unharmed. On May 8, a helicopter crashed in Uttarkashi district, killing six people, including the pilot. One person survived.

At eight Israelis were killed as Iran has launched missile strikes on multiple locations across Israel, including the major cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to medics and media reports. The strikes come in retaliation for Israeli air raids that targeted civilian infrastructure and energy facilities in Iran, including the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, which was set ablaze. The Israeli military claimed its strikes were aimed at facilities “related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project.” In response, Iran's state media reported that at least 80 people, including 20 children, have been killed and 800 others wounded over the past two days due to the Israeli offensive. Amid rising tensions, US President Donald Trump stated that both he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agree that the conflict between Israel and Iran must be halted. Following the attacks, Iran announced it is cancelling the sixth round of nuclear negotiations with the United States. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s continued assault leaves “no justification” for continuing the talks. Israel's latest wave of airstrikes hit Tehran’s main gas storage facility and its central oil refinery early Sunday, blanketing the city in smoke and fire. The Shahran fuel depot, located in an upscale neighborhood, was struck Saturday night. Iran’s oil ministry confirmed the attack, saying the site, which contains at least 11 storage tanks, was engulfed in flames. Israel targets Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters as Tehran unleashes deadly missile strike “The fire is terrifying, it’s massive; there is a lot of commotion here,” said Mostafa Shams, a local resident. “It’s the gasoline depots that are exploding one after another, it’s loud and scary.” In a separate attack, one of the country’s largest oil refineries in Shahr Rey, in southern Tehran, was also hit, according to state media. Emergency teams worked to control the blaze, with flames visible from several kilometers away, residents said. The assault on Iran’s energy infrastructure, a vital source of both export revenue and domestic energy supply, marks a serious escalation by Israel. Earlier Saturday, Israeli jets also targeted parts of the South Pars Gas Field, a major energy hub critical to Iran’s production capabilities. “We have entered the second phase of the war, which is extremely dangerous and destructive,” said Abdollah Babakhani, a Germany-based expert on Iran’s energy sector. The intensity of the attacks has sparked widespread fear in the capital. Israeli jets reportedly also struck research facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear program in Tehran, according to two Israeli defense officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the operations. Shirin, a resident near the Shahran depot, described a scene of chaos. “Israel is attacking left and right; it’s not just military targets, this is our livelihood and our lives,” she said, adding that the blast was so intense her mother fainted. Shirin criticized the Iranian government for failing to offer guidance or shelter to civilians. Iran threatens UK, US, France with retaliation if they intervene in Israel conflicts Hamid Hosseini, a member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce energy committee, noted that officials had long debated relocating the Shahran depot due to its proximity to residential areas, fearing exactly such a scenario. An oil ministry official said the site receives around 8 million liters of gasoline daily and stores enough fuel to meet Tehran’s needs for three days. The sequential explosions now pose a serious threat to surrounding neighborhoods. Israel has not yet commented on the strikes. Source: With input from agencies

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a lengthy call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump in a posting on his Truth Social platform said they spent the bulk of their conversation focused on Israel’s ongoing blistering attacks aimed at decapitating Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s retaliatory strikes. But Trump said that he also pressed Putin to end Russia's war in Ukraine. “He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end,” said Trump, who added the conversation went about an hour. Putin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia’s proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue. “Vladimir Putin, having condemned the military operation against Iran, expressed serious concern about the possible escalation of the conflict,” Ushakov told reporters. He added that Putin raised concerns that escalating conflict between Israel and Iran threatened “unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East.” Putin also emphasized Russia’s readiness to carry out possible mediation efforts, and noted that Russia had proposed steps “aimed at finding mutually acceptable agreements” during U.S.-Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. Trump says Iran has 'second chance' to come to nuclear deal as Israel and Iran exchange blows The Russia-Iran relationship has deepened since Putin launched a war on Ukraine in February 2022, with Tehran providing Moscow with drones, ballistic missiles, and other support, according to U.S. intelligence findings. “Russia’s principled approach and interest in the settlement remain unchanged,” Ushakov said. Trump described the regional situation as “very alarming,” Ushakov said, but acknowledged the “effectiveness” of Israel’s strikes on targets in Iran. The leaders did not rule out a possible return to negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, according to Ushakov. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had been set to travel on Sunday to Oman for a sixth round of talks with Iranian officials aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program — a meeting that was set before Israel launched strikes on Friday. But Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said on Saturday that the meeting would not take place as planned. Putin and Trump also discussed the ongoing exchange of war prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. The two sides traded more prisoners on Saturday under an arrangement brokered during talks between the two sides in Istanbul earlier this month. Trump urges Iran to make nuclear deal as conflict with Israel escalates “Our president noted that an exchange of prisoners of war is taking place, including seriously wounded and prisoners of war under 25 years of age,” Ushakov said, along with expressing readiness to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians. Trump said Putin also wished him “a Happy Birthday.” The U.S. leader turned 79 on Saturday.