Cheosim Bawm, the local chief coordinator of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), was arrested in a special operation in Bandarban. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested him on Sunday (April 7) afternoon. RAB-15 Commander Lt Col HM Sajjad confirmed the matter. HM Sajjad said that Cheosim, son of the deceased Rowal Bom. He has a close relation with Nathan Bawm. We are interrogating him. Besides, the operation is also going on. It is hoped that the location and plans of others will be known. Earlier on Tuesday night, a armed group of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) attacked Sonali Bank in Bandarban's Ruma and looted cash including 14 weapons.

An "alliance of authoritarian powers" is working more closely together against Western democracies, the head of Nato has warned. Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC that Russia, Iran, China and North Korea are increasingly aligned. He also said he was confident allies of the Nato military alliance would agree a long-term funding deal for Ukraine by July. But he suggested Ukraine might have to decide on some "kind of compromises". Mr Stoltenberg was speaking to Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday morning. On the Middle East conflict, he said it was "very important" that the US and other Nato countries conveyed "a very clear message to Israel" that they have to do "significantly more" to protect civilians and aid workers after the World Central Kitchen convoy attack. Mr Stoltenberg took over as the leader of Nato, the Western defence alliance, 10 years ago. Speaking to mark the 75th anniversary of the organisation, he told me the world was now "much more dangerous, much more unpredictable" and "much more violent". He said there is an "authoritarian" alliance giving each other practical support that is "more and more aligned". The Nato chief explained: "China is propping up the Russian war economy, delivering key parts to the defence industry, and in return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing." Russia was providing technology to Iran and North Korea in return for ammunition and military equipment, he added. Mr Stoltenberg told me that Nato had to work with other countries beyond its geography - such as Japan and South Korea - to "stand up against this stronger alliance of authoritarian powers". The Nato chief has been trying to persuade other countries to commit more money to the war effort in Ukraine in recent days in the hope of a five-year, 100bn euro (£86bn) fund. He said he was confident he would get an agreement by July, despite some countries expressing hesitation this week. Long-term support was vital now, and to rebuild the country after the conflict, he said. "Even if we believe and hope that the war will end in the near future, we need to support Ukraine for many years, to build their defences to deter future aggression," he said. However, while Mr Stoltenberg said that military support was vital to repel Russian forces from Ukraine and force Putin to give up his goals of occupation, he also suggested that Ukraine might ultimately have to make concessions too. "At the end of the day, it has to be Ukraine that decides what kind of compromises they're willing to do, we need to enable them to be in a position where they actually achieve an acceptable result around the negotiating table," he said. He said he was not calling for Ukraine to offer concessions now, and added that "real peace" would be achievable when "Ukraine prevails". But his language is notable because President Volodymyr Zelensky has always been adamant that he would never negotiate with Putin despite some calls on him to do so, including from the Pope. Mr Stoltenberg refused to be drawn on whether he was concerned about the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House, saying only that he was sure the US would continue to be an important ally, whoever was in charge. But his remarks about the way regimes around the world are working together are a reminder for Western leaders of the complicated and dangerous diplomatic jigsaw they have to piece together. More than two years into the conflict in Ukraine, our politicians must grapple with the reality that what is happening there is affected by decisions not just in Moscow and Kyiv but also in Washington DC, Brussels and London, as well as Beijing, Tehran and even Pyongyang. Meanwhile, six months into the Middle East conflict in Gaza, as Jeremy Bowen writes, solutions are affected by decisions not just by Israelis and Palestinians, but also Iranians, politicians in the US, the Gulf States and the UK. Most recently, this has centred on a row over arms sales, prompting criticism of the government from all sides. The latest intervention came on Saturday morning from one former Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson, to another, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. Foreign policy is rarely the overwhelming driver of votes and public opinion in the UK. This is partly because opposition parties traditionally try to avoid fights at home about battles abroad. It's also partly because voters' top priorities normally centre on their own lives and the prospects for their families. But that does not mean that the public doesn't care, or is immune from the horror they see unfolding on their screens every day, or hasn't been affected by world events - take, for instance, the huge energy price rises caused by the Ukraine conflict. And conflicts around the world in all their complexities are increasingly occupying our politicians' time, energy and effort.   Source: BBC

The UN chief says the Security Council's authority has been undermined by its inability to take action on conflicts. He called for the body to be reformed United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday deplored what he said were inadequate responses to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine by the Security Council, saying its authority had been "perhaps fatally" undermined.  Speaking at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Guterres said the Security Council was often "unable to act on the most significant peace and security issues of our time." What else did Guterres say? "The Council's lack of unity on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and on Israel's military operations in Gaza following the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October, has severely — perhaps fatally — undermined its authority," he said. "The Council needs serious reform to its composition and working methods." Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, has used its veto right to block several resolutions calling for Moscow to stop its invasion, or those condemning its "annexations" of Ukrainian regions.  The United States last week again vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Israel's offensive against Gaza. Washington said the resolution would interfere with negotiations on a deal to release hostages. It was the third US veto of a draft resolution since the start of the current fighting on October 7.

The preliminary election results show no political party has achieved a simple majority in parliament, and any indications of support from the country's powerful military are being closely monitored. Pakistan needs "stable hands" and must move on from the politics of "anarchy and polarization," the Chief of Army Staff said Saturday. General Syed Asim Munir's statement came after no party was able to gain a simple majority in parliament in Thursday's general election. "The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarization," Munir said.  Pakistan's powerful military wields massive political influence, with generals having run the country for nearly half its history.   Votes still being counted Independent candidates linked to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won most seats. The PTI's main rival three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-M), took the second-highest number of seats. Both declared victory victory on Friday. Munir said elections were "not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing."  Complicating matters, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), headed by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has outperformed expectations by securing enough seats to play kingmaker.  With most votes counted on Saturday independents had won at least 99 seats, 88 of them loyal to Khan. Sharif's PML-N took 71 and the PPP snapped up 53. Only 15 of the elected 266-seat National Assembly were still to be announced. On Saturday, the Army chief said he "wishes that these elections bring in political and economic stability and prove to be the harbinger of peace and prosperity for our beloved Pakistan."   Parties begin coalition talks Khan was barred from contesting the election after being handed several lengthy prison sentences in the days leading up to the vote. He was ousted from government in April 2022 by a no-confidence vote that Khan said the military had orchestrated. The United States, Britain, and the European Union expressed concerns about the vote, urging a probe into reported irregularities. However, Pakistan's foreign office said on Saturday that international comments on the nation's elections ignore the "undeniable fact" that Pakistan had conducted elections successfully. Coalition talks between Sharif's party and other groups were reportedly underway.  "We don't have enough of a majority to form a government without the support of others, and we invite allies to join the coalition so we can make joint efforts to pull Pakistan out of its problems," Sharif told supporters. Khan's party chief, Gohar Ali Khan, meanwhile said the PTI would try to form a government. He also said if complete results were not released by Saturday night, the party would hold a peaceful protest on Sunday.  

A Seoul court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the merger between two Samsung affiliates in 2015 was unlawfully conducted to strengthen Chairman Lee Jae-yong's control over the tech conglomerate. A South Korean court on Monday cleared Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of financial misconduct charges related to a 2015 merger which prosecutors said was aimed at consolidating his power within the conglomerate. The verdict potentially eases Lee's legal troubles, following the Samsung heir's pardon for a separate conviction of bribing a former president that toppled the government of President Park Geun-hye. Court finds insufficient evidence The Seoul Central District Court found insufficient evidence to support the claims that the merger between two Samsung affiliates — Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries — was unlawfully intended to bolster Lee's grip over Samsung Electronics. The court said it did "not recognize intention to harm shareholders" through the merger. "Solidifying Lee's control and ensuring his succession wasn't the only purpose of the merger," the court ruled. Lee denied wrongdoing, arguing the merger was part of "normal business activity" that was intended to benefit shareholders.   "I swear I had never imagined increasing my stake at the expense of causing damage to other shareholders," he said in his closing argument, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. The prosecution, which had proposed a five-year prison sentence for Lee on charges including stock price manipulation and accounting fraud, has not disclosed plans for an appeal. Lee served 18 months in prison In 2017, Lee was convicted over separate bribery charges related to the 2015 deal and served 18 months in prison. He was initially sentenced to five years for bribing former President Park Geun-hye to win government support for the merger, seen as crucial for his control over Samsung. He was pardoned in 2022 by current President Yoon Suk Yeol with the government seeking his help to overcome a "national economic crisis."

President of the Baloch Voice Association Munir Mengal has said that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir should be questioned in the US about enforced disappearances, military operations, extrajudicial killings and systematic abuse of rights in Balochistan. He said Pakistan should be asked to end its occupation of Balochistan. “Pakistani Army Chief should be questioned in America about #enforceddisappearances , #militaryoperations, #extrajudicialkillings and systematic abuse of rights in #Balochistan. #Pakistan should be asked to end occupation of #Balochistan,” the Baloch Voice Association President wrote on ‘X’.   The Baloch Voice Association is an NGO registered in France. This comes as Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is currently on a visit to the US. The Pakistan Army Chief on Wednesday (US local time) met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. A brief statement was issued by the Pentagon after the meeting, saying: “Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir at the Pentagon today, where the two officials discussed recent regional security developments and potential areas for bilateral defence cooperation.” General Munir left Islamabad on Sunday, reached the US capital on Tuesday afternoon after spending two days in Britain. Details of his engagements in the UK have not been made public, as it was apparently a private visit, according to Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper. The army chief’s visit was also discussed at a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, where a journalist reminded press secretary Major General Patrick Ryder that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin would have his first face-to-face meeting with Pakistan’s new army chief and asked what the US defence chief was looking for in this meeting. “Will they be talking about the deportation of Afghans from Pakistan or potentially buying munitions to go to Ukraine?” the journalist asked. General Ryder replied, “I don’t have any meetings to read out from the podium. Certainly, as you know, when the secretary meets with foreign counterparts and leaders, we provide a readout. So if we have a readout to put out, we’ll certainly do that.” Another journalist asked, “How would you assess US-Pakistan military relations at this point?” “Pakistan continues to be an important partner in the region. And so obviously, through Centcom, we continue to stay in close contact with them, particularly when it comes to issues like counter-terrorism,” General Ryder said, as per Dawn. As per Dawn, during his visit, General Munir is also expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. He may also meet senior members of the US House and the Senate.  Source: ANI  

Gina Raimondo urged lawmakers, Silicon Valley and US allies to stop the Asian superpower from accessing advanced chips and other top technologies The commerce secretary cited Nvidia, which recently developed a product that performs just below the limit set by her department for export to China US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Saturday urged lawmakers, Silicon Valley and US allies to stop China from getting semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies key to national security. Speaking at an annual national defence forum in Simi Valley, California, Raimondo called Beijing “the biggest threat we’ve ever had” and stressed “China is not our friend.” The world’s top two economies are locked in a fierce commercial and geopolitical rivalry, in which her department plays a leading role. In October, Raimondo unveiled a series of restrictions on the export of advanced chips to China, including those used in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), to prevent their use by Beijing for its military. “I know there are CEOs of chip companies in this audience who were a little cranky with me when I did that, because you’re losing revenue. Such is life, protecting our national security matters more than short term revenue.” “Newsflash: democracy is good for your businesses. Rule of law here and around the world is good for your businesses,” she said. Raimondo noted that Nvidia, maker of the most sophisticated chips needed to develop the latest generation of AI, had developed a product that performs just below the limit set by her department for export to China. “That’s what industry does,” she acknowledged, but added, “That’s not productive.” “Every day China wakes up trying to figure out how to do an end run around our export controls … which means every minute of every day, we have to wake up tightening those controls and being more serious about enforcement with our allies,” she said. Raimondo stressed that her department needs better funding to effectively carry out its mission. “I have a US$200 million budget. It’s like the cost of a few fighter jets. Come on,” she said. “Let’s go fund this operation like it needs to be funded so we can do it, we need to do to protect America.” “America leads the world in artificial intelligence … America leads the world in advanced semiconductor design,” Raimondo said. “That’s because of our private sector. No way are we going to let [China] catch up.”   Source: South China Morning Post

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, on Tuesday called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resign. The envoy accused Guterres of "expressing an understanding" for the "terrorism and murder" of Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel. In comments to the United Nations Security Council earlier Tuesday, Guterres called for an immediate cease-fire and decried "clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza." He said Palestinians had been subjected to decades of occupation, before adding: "It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum." Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, as well as by Germany and the EU among others. What was the Israeli diplomats' response to Guterres's comments? Ambassador Erdan took the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and said said Guterres' comments meant he was "not fit to lead the UN." "I call on him to resign immediately," Erdan wrote. "There is no justification or point in talking to those who show compassion for the most terrible atrocities committed against the citizens of Israel and the Jewish people. There are simply no words." The UN chief's remarks also angered Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who pointed his finger at Guterres and raised his voice to recount graphic accounts of civilians, including young children, who were murdered on October 7.  "Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?" Cohen said. "Definitely, this is not our world." Cohen canceled a planned meeting with Guterres after the clash. "I will not meet with the UN Secretary-General. After October 7th there is no room for a balanced approach. Hamas must be wiped off the face of the planet," Cohen wrote on social media. Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, attacking mainly civilian targets including families and a music festival. They killed at least 1,400 people and took more than 220 people hostages, according to Israeli figures. More than 5,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have also been killed across the Gaza Strip in retaliatory Israeli bombardments, according to estimates provided by the Hamas-run health ministry.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at 11am at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, witnessed by the president's wife Dr Rebecca Sultana, Cabinet members, former chief justices, judges of both the Appellate and High Court divisions, heads of the three services, principal secretary to the prime minister, the attorney general, and Supreme Court lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association leaders. Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the ceremony. The president made the appointment as per Article 95 (1) of the Constitution on Thursday as the outgoing chief justice retired on the day. Hassan, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, was appointed the chief justice on September 12. Obaidul Hassan was appointed as an additional judge of the Supreme Court’s High Court Division in 2009 while his appointment was confirmed as a permanent judge in 2011. He was elevated as a judge in the Appellate Division on September 3, 2020. Hassan was born on January 1, 1959, at Chayashi village under Mohanganj upazila in Netrokona district to Dr Akhlaqul Hossain Ahmed and Begum Hosne Ara Hossain. Hassan was appointed as the chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-2 on March 25, 2012 and in his capacity as the head of that court, also known as War Crimes Tribunal, until September 15, 2015, he pronounced 11 verdicts.  Source: UNB

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at 11am at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, witnessed by the president's wife Dr Rebecca Sultana, Cabinet members, former chief justices, judges of both the Appellate and High Court divisions, heads of the three services, principal secretary to the prime minister, the attorney general, and Supreme Court lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association leaders. Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain conducted the ceremony. The president made the appointment as per Article 95 (1) of the Constitution on Thursday as the outgoing chief justice retired on the day. Hassan, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, was appointed the chief justice on September 12. Obaidul Hassan was appointed as an additional judge of the Supreme Court’s High Court Division in 2009 while his appointment was confirmed as a permanent judge in 2011. He was elevated as a judge in the Appellate Division on September 3, 2020. Hassan was born on January 1, 1959, at Chayashi village under Mohanganj upazila in Netrokona district to Dr Akhlaqul Hossain Ahmed and Begum Hosne Ara Hossain. Hassan was appointed as the chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-2 on March 25, 2012 and in his capacity as the head of that court, also known as War Crimes Tribunal, until September 15, 2015, he pronounced 11 verdicts.  Source: UNB