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Russia Today
a day ago
- General
- Russia Today
Ukrainian terrorist plot foiled in Moscow
A Ukrainian terrorist plot has been thwarted in Moscow, Russia's investigative committee has claimed. In a statement on Friday, officials announced that they had discovered plans for a terrorist attack while searching the home of a man already under investigation for 'publicly justifying terrorism.' According to the investigative committee, the authorities seized the suspect's mobile phone during a search, which contained a conversation with 'a handler from the Ukrainian special services.' The latter had allegedly instructed the suspect to retrieve an explosive device from a cache in a wooded area in the west of Moscow. 'Investigators from the [Moscow] investigative committee, together with law enforcement operatives, immediately inspected the specified location in the park, where an improvised explosive device was uncovered and retrieved,' the statement claims. According to officials, the suspect, who has been charged with preparing a terrorist attack and been remanded in custody, intended to detonate the bomb in a busy public place. During a phone conversation with his US counterpart last Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed Donald Trump of several foiled terrorist attacks in Moscow ahead of Victory Day celebrations earlier this month. The Russian leader pointed the finger at Ukraine, accusing Kiev of attempting to intimidate foreign dignitaries ahead of the event, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In early May, Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky publicly stated that his country could not guarantee the safety of foreign attendees visiting the Russian capital on May 9. Russia's Foreign Ministry described the remark as tantamount to a terrorist threat. Its spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, accused Ukrainian authorities of displaying 'classic terrorist behavior.' Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, Kiev has on multiple occasions targeted Russian cities, including Moscow, with explosive-laden drones and used concealed bombs in several assassinations in the Russian capital and elsewhere across the country.
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
How Yunus's bowing to foreign powers, Islamist backers is destroying Bangladesh's future
Muhammad Yunus is at best a toothless figurehead, unable to quell the chaos, and at worst a pliable pawn in the hands of foreign powers; his government's failures—amnesty for rioters, media crackdowns, and delayed elections— are paving the way for a darker, divided Bangladesh read more Not long ago, Bangladesh was rocked by massive protests under the guise of student rights, demanding reform of a job quota system but spiralling into chaos that ousted Sheikh Hasina, branded a dictator, and unleashed vicious anti-Hindu violence. What began in July 2024 as university students challenging a 30 per cent job reservation for 1971 war veterans' descendants turned into a deadly anti-government uprising by August, forcing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India. As law enforcement collapsed, mobs targeted the 8 per cent Hindu minority, seen as Awami League allies, with 2,010 attacks across 52 districts, including 157 Hindu homes looted or burnt, 69 temples vandalised, and at least five Hindus killed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate once celebrated as the 'banker to the poor', was thrust into Bangladesh's interim leadership on August 8, 2024, as the answer to Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian tenure, a saviour who would heal a nation torn by protests and restore faith in governance. Student leaders and activists saw the 84-year-old economist's global reputation and microfinance legacy as a ticket to stability and fair elections, a 'second Victory Day' in his own lofty words. Leaders may have also used Yunus as a symbolic mask to present a favourable image to the West. But to call Yunus a disappointment is far too generous—his tenure has been a masterclass in failure, letting anti-Hindu violence rage unchecked while rolling out repressive policies that have plunged Bangladesh into fresh chaos. For more than a week, Dhaka's streets have been choking under the weight of massive rallies led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP's) youth wings—Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal—demanding political rights for the young and a clear path to elections. As Muhammad Yunus jetted off to Japan, lakhs of supporters, draped in green, yellow, and red, flooded Nayapaltan, waving flags and chanting for BNP's exiled leader Tarique Rahman, who railed against the interim government's failures via a virtual address. The air crackled with frustration—roads from Shahbagh to Motijheel were paralysed, commuters stranded for hours, as the youth vented their rage against Yunus's delays, accusing his regime of clinging to power while sidestepping the 'democratic' roadmap. This wasn't just a rally; it was a warning shot, a sea of voices shouting that Bangladesh's patience is wearing thin. The protests didn't stop at Nayapaltan—anger boiled over at Dhaka's heavily guarded secretariat, where government employees revolted against Yunus's draconian ordinance allowing swift dismissals for 'misconduct', a move reeking of Hasina's old playbook. Torch-lit marches and sit-ins erupted, with bureaucrats slamming the law as a gag on dissent, their shouts echoing through the capital's gridlocked streets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, piled on the pressure, publicly demanding December elections, while BNP leaders like Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury warned of a deepening crisis without a vote. Caught between calls for reform and the clamour for polls, Yunus's government—despite planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud's insistence that he won't quit—looks increasingly like a ship adrift, its promises of stability drowned out by the growing roar of a nation fed up with waiting. Muhammad Yunus's interim government, despite its lofty promises of a democratic dawn, reveals a shaky commitment to those very values, casting doubt on the true motives behind the 2024 uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina. The student protests, initially cloaked in the noble garb of reform, now seem a façade for something more sinister—a power grab dressed up as revolution. The so-called student protests that convulsed Bangladesh in July 2024, toppling Sheikh Hasina's government, were not the spontaneous outcry of a generation seeking justice but a meticulously orchestrated operation by the CIA, with Pakistan's ISI playing a willing accomplice. Hasina's refusal to grant the United States access to Saint Martin's Island in the Bay of Bengal for a military base—a strategic foothold to counter China's growing influence—had irked Washington. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Declassified cables from 2023 reveal US pressure on Dhaka for a naval facility, met with Hasina's firm stance to preserve Bangladesh's sovereignty, citing the island's ecological sensitivity and tourism value. Enter the CIA, adept at engineering unrest, and the ISI, Pakistan's seasoned hand at destabilising neighbours. The protests, sparked over a job quota system, were amplified by coordinated social media campaigns—fanning student anger into a full-blown uprising. Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif's candid admission in an interview, 'We've been doing this dirty work for the United States for decades,' lays bare the playbook: just as Pakistan funnelled US funds to radicalise Afghanistan in the 1980s, it now bankrolled chaos in Bangladesh, training agitators in Chittagong camps and funnelling $10 million through NGOs to fuel the protests. The CIA emerged triumphant, neutralising a leader who defied its geopolitical ambitions, while Pakistan tightened its grip over Bangladesh, a nation it once ruled as East Pakistan. The real losers, however, were Bangladesh's youth, duped into believing Hasina was a Stalin-esque tyrant crushing their rights. They were pawns, their idealism weaponised by foreign hands promising progress but delivering ruin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Post-Hasina, radical Islamic forces—emboldened by the power vacuum and ISI-backed networks like Jamaat-e-Islami—have surged, torching homes and temples while liberal Muslims face death threats for speaking out. Yunus's interim government, far from a democratic saviour, has ceded ground to these extremists, its amnesty for rioters and media crackdowns proving the revolution was never about reform. Bangladesh, once on a path to stability, now teeters on the edge of radicalisation, its youth betrayed by the very forces they thought would set them free, while the CIA and ISI watch their gambit unfold with cold satisfaction. India's principled decision to grant refuge to Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 stands as a testament to its commitment to regional stability and moral clarity, recognising her role in keeping Bangladesh's radical forces at bay while fiercely guarding its sovereignty against foreign encroachment. Hasina, for all her flaws, held the line against extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, curbing their influence and fostering economic growth, while rejecting US demands for a military base on Saint Martin's Island. By forcing her out, protestors backed by the CIA and ISI have hurled Bangladesh into a vortex of perennial instability, with anti-Hindu violence surging and radical Islamists gaining ground. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Muhammad Yunus, the interim chief advisor, is at best a toothless figurehead, unable to quell the chaos, and at worst a pliable pawn in the hands of foreign powers, his government's failures—amnesty for rioters, media crackdowns, and delayed elections—are paving the way for a darker, divided Bangladesh, while India stands firm as a beacon of reason amid the region's self-inflicted wounds. The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Pressure mounting on reluctant Trump to impose sanctions on Russia
FILE PHOTO: Russian soldiers, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, march in columns during a parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo FILE PHOTO: A participant wearing a mask depicting the Statue of Liberty attends a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in front of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine March 8, 2025. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo WASHINGTON - Some Republicans in Congress and White House advisers are urging U.S. President Donald Trump to finally embrace new sanctions on Moscow as frustration mounts over Russian President Vladimir Putin's military assault on Ukraine. Trump has held off on such penalties for months, believing he could have fruitful dealings with Putin to end the war and considering sanctions in general to be overused and often ineffective. White House officials say Trump still hopes to develop an economic partnership with Russia. He sees sanctions as an escalation in tensions with Moscow that could derail hopes of a ceasefire in the three-year-old conflict. But his frustration with Putin is genuine and increasingly severe, according to aides. They said he is giving sanctions serious consideration after Russia escalated its attacks in recent days. "He is always looking at different ways to apply pressure," a senior White House official said. "This is no different. He's always weighing his options." U.S. officials have prepared new economic sanctions against Russia, including banking and energy measures. They say that sanctions package is ready to implement based on Trump's order. One option supported by some Trump advisers would be for the president to embrace, or at least not obstruct, legislation introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal last month that would set a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil. Some advisers believe the bill could be useful because it would allow consequential sanctions to go into effect while Trump could in essence tell Putin the sanctions decision was out of his hands, according to one U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter. That in turn could help Trump maintain a viable line of communication with Putin. That U.S. official and another person familiar with internal deliberations said the Trump White House believes secondary sanctions - that is to say sanctions on countries that do business with Russia, not just Russia itself - are needed for them to be effective. Graham and fellow Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, both close Trump allies, said this week that now is the time to increase pressure on Putin. "I believe President Trump was sincere when he thought his friendship w Putin would end the war. Now that being the case, IT'S TIME FOR SANCTIONS STRONG ENUF SO PUTIN KNOWS 'game over,'" Grassley said in a social media post on Tuesday. WAR DRAGS ON Trump entered office in January predicting he would be able to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. But in the months since, he has absorbed the grim reality that the conflict is more intractable than he originally believed and has blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for allowing it to happen. Last week, Trump spoke with Putin for two hours and thought he had a deal to begin ceasefire negotiations immediately. Then Russia launched a barrage of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, prompting Trump to say Putin had "gone absolutely CRAZY" and that he was "playing with fire" by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Kyiv. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump explained why he felt imposing sanctions could antagonize Putin. "If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that," he said. Asked whether Putin wanted to end the war, Trump said, "I can't tell you that, but I'll let you know in about two weeks," noting he was waiting on Russia to submit its latest peace proposal. "We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not, and if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently," Trump added. Trump has threatened sanctions before, only to back off. He talked about the possibility of sanctions back in January and again before his most recent call with Putin. Putin said last week that he had agreed to work with Ukraine on a memorandum that would establish the contours of a peace accord, including the timing of a ceasefire. Russia says it is currently drafting its version of the memorandum and cannot estimate how long that will take. Republicans generally have followed Trump's lead on foreign policy in the months since he began his second term in office, making their pursuit of sanctions on their own noteworthy. White House officials have held conversations with Senate Republicans about the contents of the sanctions bill, according to one of the U.S. officials. Should the Senate bill move forward, there is a bipartisan companion bill in the House of Representatives, although support for Ukraine among House Republicans has been notably weaker than in the Senate. The European Union, meanwhile, has been ramping up sanctions on Russia. An EU measure adopted last week hit over 130 entities and individuals, and listed 75 new sanctions entities including major oil firm Surgutneftegaz. In meetings in recent days in Washington, U.S. officials have said they have no qualms with the new measures, according to one person with direct knowledge of the matter. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Learns New Lessons From Russia-Ukraine War: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is taking advantage of the Russia-Ukraine war to prepare for a potential future conflict by drawing lessons from the ongoing three-year-long conflict, according to a United States think tank. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries by email for comment. Why It Matters While China has claimed neutrality in Moscow's war with Kyiv, the East Asian power is providing diplomatic support to its quasi-ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Beijing has also presented a 12-point plan and proposed four principles to achieve peace. Ukraine and its Western allies have long accused China of aiding Russia during the war, including by exporting dual-use technology. Beijing this week denied Ukrainian claims that it is supplying Russia with "lethal weapons," asserting that it strictly controls dual-use items. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting before the Victory Day military parade on May 9, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during their meeting before the Victory Day military parade on May 9, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti via AP What To Know In a RAND report titled "China's Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War," political scientist Howard Wang and research assistant Brett Zakheim wrote that both the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have made "significant efforts" to study the conflict and draw lessons for Chinese policy. The research report—published on May 22—noted that CCP analysts believe Washington "manufactures crises to justify alliances, not because their allies share interests or values." "Accordingly, CCP analysts see these alliances as vulnerable and assess that China has opportunities to use disinformation to weaken U.S. alliances," the authors said. The U.S. government has previously accused China of conducting a disinformation campaign related to the war. For the Chinese military, which is being modernized to become a "world-class" force, PLA researchers assessed that America's defense industrial base cannot sustain a protracted war and that the margin of U.S. technological superiority will diminish as a conflict drags on. China believes that its defense mobilization system would offer advantages in an extended conflict, the report said. China, which has the world's largest navy by hull count, operates 35 shipyards linked to the PLA, compared with just four public shipyards for the U.S. Navy. The report also claimed that China is redefining hybrid warfare—the combination of military and nonmilitary actions—after observing how Russia overestimated its ability to deter military escalation through nonmilitary tools, which led to "disastrous battlefield outcomes." Given Russia's failure, the report concluded, the PLA may be growing doubtful that it can prevent U.S.-China competition from erupting into conflict. It added that the PLA is shifting to a "new vision of warfare"—one resigned to fighting a costly, protracted conflict, rather than relying primarily on compelling enemies to surrender with minimal use of force. Ukrainian drones are ready to be fired toward Russian positions in a shelter on May 23, 2025, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Ukrainian drones are ready to be fired toward Russian positions in a shelter on May 23, 2025, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP What People Are Saying The RAND's report said: "[T]he lessons that CCP and PLA leaders learn from the Russia-Ukraine war support the CCP's development of strategies and policies for strategic competition with the United States, including how to prosecute a potential future conflict such as a war over Taiwan." Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on May 27: "China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We've been committed to bringing about a ceasefire and promoting talks for peace. China has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict, and strictly controls dual-use items." What Happens Next It remains to be seen how the Chinese ruling party and military will apply the lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine war to Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Communist China, which has repeatedly threatened the use of force against the U.S. security partner.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Several Russian airports suspend operations over Ukrainian drone raids
Several airports in Russia suspended operations overnight on Tuesday amid drone attacks from Ukraine, reports say. The arrivals and departures of civilian aircraft were restricted at the airports of Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Tambov and Kaluga, according to Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. The agency spokesperson Artyom Korenyako said in a post on Telegram, "To ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions on their entry and exit have also been introduced". The Russian Defence Ministry later claimed that 99 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed over seven Russian regions from Monday evening to Tuesday morning. Over the past few days, Russian authorities shut down airports in Moscow twice, on Friday and Sunday, amid Kyiv's drone raids into Russian territory. Since the end of April, Kyiv has intensified its drone attacks on Russia, launching hundreds of drones at Moscow and disrupting the airspace over the Russian capital. In the run-up to Moscow's Victory Day parade, Ukrainian drones caused massive disruptions at Moscow airports for a few days in a row. At least 60,000 people had their trips delayed or cancelled, with over 300 flights affected. Russian President Vladimir Putin's high-level guests were among those affected by the disruption. The plane carrying his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić was reportedly forced to divert to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku because of the threats in Russian airspace.
