Dhaka, May 13 (IANS) Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof’s sudden leave and disappearance from the country has set rumour mills abuzz, not only on social media but also in political and diplomatic circles from Dhaka to Islamabad.

Seoul, May 13 (IANS) The South Korean foreign ministry is preparing to resume diplomacy at the leaders’ level once the new government is launched after the June 3 presidential election, an official said on Tuesday, amid a prolonged leadership vacuum caused by former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law bid.Since Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his impeachment and removal from office, South Korea’s diplomacy has stalled, especially at the high level, largely due to the leadership vacuum.A slew of multilateral diplomatic events are scheduled for next month, including the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced countries in Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders’ gathering in the Netherlands.If confirmed, these venues are expected to serve as the first stage for the succeeding president’s diplomatic debut where he could possibly meet with key world leaders for bilateral talks, including US President Donald Trump.”We are making basic preparations to resume summit diplomacy once the new government takes office following the June 3 presidential election,” a ministry official told reporters.”We’re preparing, in terms of both content and protocol, to ensure that diplomatic activities proceed without a hitch under any circumstances,” he said.South Korea is not a G7 member state, but was invited to the expanded G7 sessions in 2021 and 2023, when Britain and Japan were the host country, respectively.South Korea has also been invited to NATO summits in recent years as one of NATO’s four Indo-Pacific partners, known as the IP4, along with Japan, New Zealand and Australia, Yonhap news agency reported.Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation’s second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.Yoon, 64, follows in the footsteps of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over a corruption scandal.Before taking the nation’s highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park’s corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment.In 2019, he was appointed as the nation’s top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party.Yoon’s term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country’s top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall.–IANSint/jk/dan

Seoul, May 13 (IANS) Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee has told the prosecution she cannot comply with a summon request this week, claiming the investigation into the alleged influence-peddling case could sway public opinion ahead of the upcoming presidential election, judicial sources said on Tuesday.Kim’s legal representatives submitted a letter of excuse for her non-attendance to a planned hearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Wednesday, according to the sources.Kim faces charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act in connection with allegations that she helped former People Power Party Rep. Kim Young-sun win the party’s nomination for the 2022 by-elections via Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, who in return conducted free public opinion polls favourable to Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the 2022 presidential election.In the letter, Kim cited concerns over the investigation’s potential impact on the June 3 presidential election, saying it could spur speculative media reports, Yonhap news agency reported.Earlier on May 12, prosecutors in South Korea had ordered Kim to appear for questioning this week over allegations of influence-peddling in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections.Prosecutors are reportedly considering requesting a warrant to detain Kim in the event she defies repeated summonses without legitimate grounds.Earlier in 2025, Kim Keon-hee, faced mounting public scrutiny over her suspected involvement in the country’s short-lived martial law decree, with allegations of election meddling and text messages sent to an official on the eve of the December debacle.The opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) claimed that the looming threat of a public revelation over the first couple’s alleged interference in the nomination process for a local parliamentary by-election in 2022 had pressured former president Yoon Suk-yeol into launching the long-planned action.Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation’s second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.Before taking the nation’s highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park’s corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment.In 2019, he was appointed as the nation’s top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party.Yoon’s term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country’s top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall.–IANSint/jk/dan

Dhaka, May 13 (IANS) As the radical Islamist party of Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, struggles to regain its political party status, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that it is the first instance in the country’s history where a party’s registration was cancelled through a High Court verdict.The remarks were made by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed during the hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition by the full appellate division bench consisting of seven members.The Islamist party appealed seeking restoration of its registration as a political party and its electoral symbol, scale, local media reported.Tawhidul Islam, who represented the Election Commission (EC) in the hearing, said that EC has stepped back ever since the High Court intervened in the matter of Jamaat’s registration, and is now waiting for the verdict from the Appellate Division regarding Jamaat’s registration.He further informed the court that following the administrative decision of the Supreme Court, the EC removed Jamaat’s symbol, the scales, and if it now wants a new symbol, it can apply afresh.Meanwhile, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till May 14, Bangladeshi leading daily, The Dhaka Tribune, reported.In August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration as a political party illegal and void by disposing of a writ petition. Subsequently, in December 2018, the EC formally cancelled the party’s registration through a gazette notification.Jamaat later appealed against the High Court’s verdict, but in November 2023, the Appellate Division, led by then Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, dismissed Jamaat’s appeal for default as the party’s principal lawyer was not present during the appeal hearing.As a result, the High Court’s verdict declaring Jamaat’s registration as an illegal political party remained in effect.After the fall of the Awami League Government, headed by Sheikh Hasina in a violent mass uprising last year, Jamaat-e-Islami submitted a petition to revive the appeal to regain its cancelled registration as a political party.In October, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court accepted Jamaat-e-Islami’s request seeking to regain its registration as a political party.From then on, Jamaat used the legal means to seek the restoration of the party registration and its electoral symbol, local media reported.Reports further suggest that on August 1 last year, the previous Awami League-led government banned Jamaat, its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and all of its associated organisations as political entities under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009.However, the interim government under Muhammad Yunus, after coming to power, lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, issuing a gazette notification.These radical forces earlier worked hand in glove with the student leaders and Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Canberra, May 13 (IANS) Sussan Ley has been appointed as the leader of the Liberal Party, becoming the first woman to lead the federal party in its 80-year history.

She defeated her rival Angus Taylor in a tight party room ballot, taking over as Australia’s first female opposition leader, according to local media report.Ley took over the position from former opposition leader Peter Dutton.The Liberal-National coalition, which is presently Australia’s main opposition party, suffered a historic defeat in the elections on May 3.Dutton, who led the coalition, also became the first federal leader of an opposition to lose his own parliamentary seat, Australian news agency ABC reported.In an address to the nation as the leader for the first time, Ley said she planned to “do things differently” and would adopt a “fresh approach” after the coalition’s massive election loss.Later speaking to reporters gathered in the Liberal party room, she said she was humbled, honoured and “up for the job.””I want to harness the talents of every single person in our party room going forward to develop the clear, articulate policy agenda that does meet Australians where they are,” she said.Taylor congratulated Ley, stating that her success was a milestone for the party, which needed to come together.”The Liberal Party has suffered a historic defeat, and we have lost many good people in this election. This result shows we must do more to convince Australians that the coalition is the best party to support aspiration, economic opportunity, and the Australian dream,” he said.Meanwhile, Ley dismissed the claims that her appointment to the Liberal leadership is an example of the “glass cliff effect.”The glass cliff effect refers to women being more likely to be appointed to leadership positions when an organisation is in a precarious position, ABC reported.”I don’t accept that. I do say it sends a signal to the women of Australia that the Liberal Party has elected its first woman leader, but my agenda is much more than that. It’s about connecting with women and listening to where we went wrong,” she said.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Seoul, May 13 (IANS) South Korea’s People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo said on Tuesday that he is not considering expelling impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol from the conservative party ahead of the June 3 election.Kim resisted growing calls from his own party to sever ties with Yoon, who was removed from office last month over his short-lived martial law declaration on December 3 and now faces trials on charges of leading an insurrection.”Whether former President Yoon decides to leave the party or not is up to him,” Kim told reporters during his campaign stop in the southeastern city of Daegu.”If we judge that former President Yoon did something wrong and demand that he leave, then our party also bears responsibility,” he added.Kim, who apologised on Monday for the public’s suffering from Yoon’s martial law attempt, described the move as “one of the most extreme measures,” emphasising that it is not an appropriate approach to resolve political disputes.The former labour minister urged the party to overcome controversies related to Yoon’s martial law and impeachment and move forward to win the election.After Kim registered as the PPP’s candidate on Sunday following days of an internal feud over a unified candidacy with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Yoon urged conservatives to rally behind Kim for the race, Yonhap news agency reported.If elected, Kim said he would push for an early summit with US President Donald Trump to negotiate a trade deal that would ease broad tariffs.He also unveiled support measures for the Artificial Intelligence sector to foster 200,000 young professionals in the field and create a private-public fund worth 100 trillion won ($71.2 billion) by drawing foreign investment.On security, Kim vowed to develop Nuclear-powered submarines to counter Pyongyang’s Nuclear threats and pursue unification with North Korea to save its people suffering from hunger and oppression.”Progressivism should bring prosperity, not poverty. I want to tear apart fake progressivism,” Kim said.–IANSint/jk/rad

Taipei, May 13 (IANS) Taiwan on Tuesday said that it spotted 31 Chinese aircraft (30 of which crossed the median line of the strait and entered the northern and southwest airspace), 7 Chinese warships, and one official ship, continuing to operate around the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwanese army used mission aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond.”31 sorties of Chinese army aircraft, 7 Chinese navy vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 30 out of 31 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone,” the Ministry of National Defence posted on X.The defence ministry also stated that China carried out a satellite launch mission that passed through central Taiwan toward the western Pacific Ocean, and as the altitude is outside the atmosphere, it posed no threat to Taiwan.These satellites were launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China’s southwest Sichuan Province in the early hours on Tuesday.”At 02:09 (UTC+8) today, China launched satellites from XSLC with the flight path over central Taiwan toward the Western Pacific. The altitude is beyond the atmosphere, posing no threat. Taiwan’s Armed Forces monitored the process and remain ready to respond accordingly,” the ministry said.Last month, Taiwan strongly condemned China’s joint military drill when it detected 19 Chinese Navy ships around Taipei, and stated that Beijing’s provocations threatened regional peace.The Taiwanese defence ministry called the move a disruption to the status quo and said it had deployed military vessels and aircraft in response to the threats.Taiwanese President Lai had also labelled China a “foreign hostile force” and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases.China claims Taiwan to be a part of its territory that must be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary. In recent years, Beijing has increased military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to intensify pressure on Taiwan.Meanwhile, the US and its allies consider the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway and routinely send warships through the strait, asserting their influence in the Indo-Pacific region and countering the growing influence of China.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Tripoli, May 13 (IANS) Violent clashes erupted in the Libyan capital Tripoli between rival armed…

Canberra, May 13 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his ministers have been sworn in after the Labor Party won a second term in power at the federal election.Albanese, his Cabinet, outer ministry and assistant ministers were officially sworn in to their roles by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the representative of the British monarchy in Australia, at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra on Tuesday morning.During the ceremony, the 42 members of the ministry took an oath of office, declaring that they will “well and truly serve” the Commonwealth of Australia in their respective offices, reports Xinhua news agency.The 42 members consist of 23 members of the Cabinet, the innermost sanctum of the government, seven members of the outer ministry and 12 assistant ministers.The Cabinet and outer ministry is largely unchanged from the end of Albanese’s first term, with the vast majority of senior leadership figures continuing in their roles, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.Announcing the list of ministers on Monday, Albanese said that it was the largest Labor caucus — referring to the number of the party’s politicians elected to the federal parliament — in history following the landslide result at the May 3 election.He said the ministers and party had an “extraordinary opportunity” to change Australia “for the better.””I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government with the election, and we certainly won’t take it for granted,” he said.Among the changes from Albanese’s previous ministry is the appointment of Michelle Rowland as Attorney-General, replacing Mark Dreyfus, who was dumped from the ministry along with former Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic due to factional negotiations.The new ministry also includes a new assistant minister role for international education, which has been filled by Julian Hill.–IANSint/sd/

Washington, May 13 (IANS) The US has imposed sanctions on three Iranian nationals and one Iranian entity with ties to Tehran’s Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, which is known by its Persian acronym, SPND.The SPND is the direct successor organisation to Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also referred to as the Amad Project.The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in a press statement on Monday, stated that “all individuals sanctioned are involved in activities that materially contribute to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.””Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems. Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that is producing uranium enriched to 60 per cent, and it continues to use front companies and procurement agents to obscure its efforts to acquire dual-use items from foreign suppliers,” the statement said.”The United States’ actions are intended to delay and degrade the ability of SPND to conduct nuclear weapons research and development. Today’s actions demonstrate the United States’ commitment to ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon,” it further added.The remarks followed after the US and Iran on Sunday concluded the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman’s capital, Muscat.”The fourth round of indirect Iran-US negotiations is concluded; difficult but useful talks to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable & realistic ways to address the differences. Next round will be coordinated and announced by Oman,” Esmaeil Baqaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, posted on X.Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that indirect negotiations with the United States in Oman to revive the 2015 nuclear deal had become “much more serious and frank,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected US demands for Tehran to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure.Araghchi, speaking to Iran’s state-run IRIB TV after the fourth round of negotiations in Oman’s capital, said the discussions had shifted from general topics to more specific proposals.He characterised the talks as “forward-moving” but acknowledged the growing complexity of the issues.Both sides agreed to continue the discussions.Meanwhile, President Pezeshkian firmly rejected US calls to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.”This is unacceptable. Iran will not relinquish its peaceful nuclear rights,” he declared, reaffirming Tehran’s stance that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.–IANSint/scor/sd/