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Bangladesh: BNP demands national elections this year

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Dhaka, May 17 (IANS) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday expressed concerns that their December election deadline may quietly pass away as the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus is showing no indication of launching preparations for the polls.Some senior BNP leaders stated that nine months after the Yunus-led interim government came to power, there is still no talk about holding elections in the country. Additionally, many controversial moves, such as allowing human corridors to Rakhine and outsourcing port operations, have raised serious doubts about the government’s true intentions.The leaders further mentioned that the party rank and file is exerting pressure to take to the streets in order to put pressure on the interim government to announce a clear election roadmap and hold elections this year.Local media reported that a BNP leader, wishing to remain anonymous, said the party fears that the ban on activities of the Awami League, increasing contradictions among the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are leading to unnecessary street protests, which might further complicate the political scenario in the coming days.Further, the BNP suspects that the recent ban on the activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party, Awami League, and the subsequent suspension of the party’s registration by the Election Commission are part of a larger conspiracy by local and international actors to prolong the power of the interim government.“Every now and then, new issues are brought forward, reforms are dragged out, and the overall situation is kept in a state of flux. It appears to be part of a larger conspiracy to defer elections indefinitely,” a member of the BNP Standing Committee told UNB on condition of anonymity.“Our youth rally will be held on May 28 with a massive showdown in Dhaka. From that rally, the BNP will send out a strong message to the government not to unnecessarily delay the election,” said another BNP leaderEarlier this week, senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas alleged that many dubious foreigners are arriving in Bangladesh and accused the interim government of serving the interests of others rather than the people of the country.Recently, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned to Bangladesh after four months of medical treatment in London. Reports suggest that the return of the BNP chief is seen as a step to add pressure on the Yunus-led interim government to hold national elections in the country.Last month, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas alleged that the deliberate attempt to delay the election is visible. “There are people openly talking about keeping Yunus in power for five years. But those trying to do that will not only damage his reputation but also cause serious harm to the country,” said Abbas.BNP had expressed doubts about the possibility of national parliamentary elections being held in December on several occasions over the past few months with the party’s senior leaders alleging a “conspiracy” to delay the polls.The much-flaunted unity of the political outfits in Bangladesh, which was on full display during the ousting of the democratically elected Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, seems to have faded gradually.–IANSint/scor/as

Israeli army says killed Hezbollah commander in Lebanon

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Jerusalem, May 17 (IANS) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it struck and killed a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon on Saturday.According to the statement, the commander, whose name was not given, was killed in the village of Mazraat Jemjim, north of Tyre city.Several Israeli media outlets reported that the Hezbollah commander was attacked by a drone while inside a car.The IDF statement accused him of “being involved in the reestablishment of Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area,” calling such rebuilding efforts and related activity “a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon”.On Thursday, Israeli drones carried out multiple airstrikes across southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah member and destroying several prefabricated structures, Lebanese security and official sources said.Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said in a statement that an Israeli drone strike targetting a vehicle on the Arnoun-Yohmor road killed one person.A Lebanese security source identified the victim as Mohammad Ali Marouni, a Hezbollah member from the town of Arnoun in the Nabatieh District, deep in southern Lebanon.According to Lebanese official sources, three Hezbollah members were killed and a fourth wounded in separate Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.In a related incident, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli Apache helicopter carried out three consecutive strikes within half an hour on the village of Houla in southeastern Lebanon, targetting a prefabricated structure belonging to the Wataawano Association.The agency added that at dawn, the Israeli army struck another prefabricated building in the village of Adaisseh. Separately, a drone dropped a stun grenade on a house in Kfar Kila, while another drone dropped a similar device over the ruins of al-Dhahira School in the western sector of southern Lebanon.The cross-border strikes come despite a ceasefire agreement reached on November 27, 2024, intended to halt more than a year of hostilities tied to the war in Gaza. The truce, mediated by the United States and France, has largely held, though sporadic flare-ups have continued, Xinhua news agency reported.Israel has said its strikes are intended to neutralize Hezbollah threats. However, the Lebanese government and several Arab states have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement.–IANSint/as

Global hunger worsened in 2024, affecting 295 million people: UN report

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Rome, May 17 (IANS) Global food insecurity and malnutrition continued to worsen in 2024, with 295 million people suffering from acute hunger across 53 countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its partners said in a report.The figure represents an increase of 13.7 million compared to 2023, marking the sixth-consecutive annual rise in acute food insecurity in the world’s most fragile regions.The findings were published in the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), an international alliance comprising the FAO, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and various governmental and non-governmental organisations.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the figures as “another unflinching indictment of a world dangerously off course.”In the report’s foreword, he warned that “hunger and malnutrition are spreading faster than our ability to respond, yet globally, a third of all food produced is lost or wasted.”He added that long-standing crises are now being compounded by a more recent one: A dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding.While acute food insecurity typically stems from a combination of factors – such as poverty, economic shocks, and extreme weather, the report emphasised that conflicts remained the primary driver in many of the worst-hit regions. Some populations faced conditions beyond acute hunger.Famine was confirmed in parts of Sudan in 2024, while catastrophic levels of food insecurity were recorded in the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali. In the Gaza Strip, famine was narrowly averted thanks to stepped-up humanitarian aid, but the report warned that the risk could return between May and September 2025 if the large-scale military operation and blockade continue.The report also highlighted the severe impact of forced displacement. Of the 128 million people forcibly displaced in 2024, nearly 95 million – including internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and refugees – were living in countries already grappling with food crises, Xinhua news agency reported.In addition, economic shocks triggered food insecurity in 15 countries, affecting 59.4 million people, while extreme weather events pushed 18 countries into crisis, impacting more than 96 million people, particularly in Southern Asia, Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa.FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu warned that acute food insecurity is becoming a persistent reality, especially in rural areas. “The path forward is clear: Investment in emergency agriculture is critical – not just as a response, but as the most cost-effective solution to deliver significant, long-lasting impact,” he said.–IANSint/jk/rad

B’desh: One in Magura rape case sentenced to death, victim’s family outraged over acquittals

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Dhaka, May 17 (IANS) A Bangladesh court on Saturday sentenced one accused in the Magura child rape and murder case to death, and acquitted the remaining three. However, the family of the victim expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict.The judgment came months after the eight-year-old child succumbed to injuries following the sexual assault, local media reported.Judge Md Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal passed the order sentencing the prime accused in the case, Hitu Sheikh, aged 50, to death.The victim’s mother who filed the case has expressed dissatisfaction to accept the acquittal of the other three accused in the rape and murder case.”Although Hitu Sheikh has been sentenced to death, the other three accused have been acquitted. We cannot accept this verdict,” a leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Dhaka Tribune, quoted her as saying.”The plaintiff is not satisfied with this verdict. Therefore, we will decide through discussion whether to appeal this verdict in the higher court,” said Monirul Islam Mukul, the public prosecutor.According to reports, the tragic incident occurred in early March when the young victim was raped at her sister’s house in Magura.The child, who sustained critical injuries, was initially treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being transferred to CMH Hospital for advanced care.The 8-year-old rape victim passed away on March 13 at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, after fighting for her life for a week.The brutal incident sparked protests across the country against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, demanding justice and stricter measures to curb violence against women and children.Women in Bangladesh took to the streets demanding justice for rape, stricter punishment for offenders, and the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.Meanwhile, on Friday several thousand women thronged Dhaka, marching under “Women’s March for Solidarity” demanding that the interim government act against the threats women and minority communities face in the country.They also alleged a misinformation campaign against the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, local media reported.The demonstrators said that women continue to face daily harassment, exclusion from decision-making, and online abuse, aimed at deterring their political participation.With the Yunus-led interim government assuming power in the South Asian nation last year, several cases of sexual violence against women have been reported.–IANSint/scor/sd

Indian mission in Sri Lanka organises exhibition on Buddhist Sculptural Heritage

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Colombo, May 17 (IANS) The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, along with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and Bihar Museum, organised ‘Dhamma Rupa’ exhibition as part of the Buddha Rashmi Vesak Festival at Seemamalakaya, Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. The event scheduled from May 12-16 was attended by several dignitaries including Sri Lankan Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament.”Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MPs and dignitaries attended the ‘Dhamma Rupa’ exhibition, organised by High Commission of India in Colombo with ICCR’s Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and Bihar Museum at Seemamalakaya, Gangaramaya Temple from May 12-16 as part of the Buddha Rashmi Vesak Festival,” Indian High Commission in Colombo posted on X on Saturday.”The exhibition received widespread appreciation from devotees for its spiritual and cultural insights. To mark the occasion, Sinhala translations of 5 Amar Chitra Katha Jataka Tales were gifted to visiting children, connecting young minds with the teachings of Lord Buddha,” the post added.The ‘Dhamma Rupa’ Exhibition celebrates India’s rich Buddhist sculptural legacy and presents rare photographic displays of iconic Buddha sculptures dating from the 1st century BCE to the 11th century CE.It showcases striking images of ancient Buddha sculptures excavated from various regions of India, now housed in the Bihar Museum.These sculptures reflect the spiritual depth and exquisite craftsmanship of early Buddhist artists and offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience the artistic and devotional expressions of Buddhist art from this formative period.Recognised as the most sacred Buddhist festival, Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Lord Buddha. The ‘Buddha Rashmi 2025’ National Vesak Zone aims to foster spiritual revival, cultural appreciation, and harmony among Buddhist devotees.Earlier this week, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, accompanied by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, inaugurated the exhibition during the opening of the Vesak Festival at Gangaramaya.The event, which was jointly organised by the Prime Minister’s Office and Gangaramaya Temple on May 12, saw the participation of Ministers and other dignitaries.The High Commission of India also distributed copies of the Sinhala translations of five Amar Chitra Katha comic books based on Jataka Tales at the exhibition venue to the visiting children as part of a special initiative to creatively engage young minds with the teachings and values of Lord Buddha.These initiatives reflect the continuing commitment of India to preserve, share, and celebrate the common Buddhist heritage of India and Sri Lanka.It is a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted civilisational ties and enduring cultural bond that unite the two nations through the timeless teachings of the Lord Buddha.–IANSint/scor/sd/

North Korean leader Kim oversees anti-air combat, air raid drills, calls for stronger war preparations

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Seoul, May 17 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw anti-air combat and air raid drills by an air force flight group this week, stressing the need for constant and stronger war preparations across all military units, Pyongyang’s state media reported on Saturday.Kim gave the guidance during his visit on Thursday to the flight group under the Guards 1st Air Division of the Korean People’s Army, calling on “all the units of the entire army to bring about a radical turn in the preparations for war in constant war posture,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.The drills were aimed at familiarising flying corps as well as anti-air missile, radar and electronic warfare subunits with the mission to detect, track and destroy enemy cruise missiles and suicide drones, according to the KCNA.The drills included a test of a new-type long-range precision glide guided bomb and a target attack exercise, as well as a training program for destroying enemy drones with a helicopter, precision bombing of naval targets and a demonstration flight of strategic reconnaissance drones and multipurpose drones, the KCNA said.Kim touted the drills as “very useful” for allowing pilots to gain experience in modern air combat methods, and presented directions for the development of air weapon systems, air defence means, detection and electronic warfare integrated systems and anti-drone integrated systems, according to the KCNA.The drills proved the air defence capabilities of the groups under the Guards 1st Air Division, the state media noted.State media photos showed a range of the North’s latest air assets, such as the MiG-29 and the Su-25 aircraft, deployed for the drills.Among the photos were what appeared to be a new air-to-air missile, first showcased in a 2021 arms fair, being launched from the MiG-29 fighter jet.”It is presumed to be a localised version of Russia’s R-27 mid-to-long range air-to-air missile developed by the Russian Air Force to be equipped on the MiG-29,” Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, raising the possibility of Pyongyang receiving technological assistance from Moscow.State media photos also showed North Korean drones resembling the US Global Hawk and the Reaper, Yonhap news agency reported.The latest drills came as Kim has been highlighting the importance of modernising conventional weapons as he recently made a series of public visits to military units and munitions factories.Kim was accompanied by a group of party and military officials, including Ri Pyong-chol, general adviser for the munitions policy of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee, and Kim Yong-hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences.–IANSint/jk/rad

South Korea: Ex-President Yoon announces departure from PPP, urges support for party candidate Kim

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Seoul, May 17 (IANS) Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday announced his departure from the People Power Party (PPP), urging the public to support the party’s presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo.In a post on his Facebook account, Yoon said, “I am leaving the People Power Party today,” adding, “Although I am leaving the party, I will continue to stand at the forefront to defend freedom and national sovereignty.”He also called on voters to unite behind Kim, emphasising the importance of participating in the upcoming election.”Please give your support to Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party. Make sure to cast your vote. Every single vote is a path toward safeguarding this country’s freedom, sovereignty and prosperity,” he said.Yoon was removed from office in April over his botched martial law attempt in December and is facing a criminal trial.Calls have been growing within the conservative PPP for the ousted President to sever his ties with the party, with many members believing that his departure is necessary to help boost Kim’s stagnant poll numbers against Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung.”I believe the (former) President will make a rational decision,” Rep. Kim Yong-tae, interim party leader, said during a Press conference on Thursday. “As the interim leader, I would respectfully recommend the President leave the party.”PPP candidate Kim had largely retained a neutral position about Yoon’s potential exit from the party, saying it was up to Yoon to decide whether to leave the PPP, while more centrist members of the party had called for the leadership to voluntarily expunge Yoon’s party affiliation.After Yoon’s announcement, the PPP candidate said he “respects” the former President’s decision to leave the party, Yonhap news agency reported.”We will humbly accept his decision and work to make the party more united and innovative, so that the party, the campaign and the presidency can align with the will of the people,” Kim Moon-soo told reporters after a campaign meeting at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Centre in Gwangju, some 270 kilometres south of Seoul.When asked whether there had been any prior coordination with Yoon on his withdrawal, candidate Kim replied, “None at all.”Rival parties slammed Yoon’s PPP departure, claiming that his statement lacks a sense of apology to the public for his martial law fiasco.DP spokesperson Rep. Hwang Jung-a said during a briefing, “Yoon Suk Yeol’s departure statement is filled with delusion and self-obsession, with no trace of reflection or apology.””The PPP has forever branded itself as a pathetic remnant of insurrectionists, having failed to expel the leader of insurrection with its own hands.”Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the minor New Reform Party, also criticised Yoon.”It is repugnant that the very person who caused chaos consumed by delusions of election fraud is speaking of freedom, rule of law, sovereignty, happiness and security.” Lee wrote on his Facebook account.–IANSint/jk/rad

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