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US Responds to Sheikh Hasina’s Alleged Role in Enforced Disappearances
International Desk
19 Dec 2024, 10:01
Photo: Collected
The issue of submitting an interim report on enforced disappearances to Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus by the Investigation Commission was raised during a regular press briefing by the US Department of State. The United States welcomed the interim government's initiative to investigate these incidents and encouraged maintaining fairness and transparency in the judicial process.
Speaking at the briefing on Wednesday, December 18, Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, addressed concerns about enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.
During the session, a journalist questioned the possibility of US sanctions against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over her alleged involvement in enforced disappearances. The journalist referred to a report by The New York Times, which cited findings from the Investigation Commission implicating Sheikh Hasina in such incidents. The journalist also noted that the US had previously imposed sanctions on individuals involved in disappearances in Bangladesh.
In response, Patel expressed serious concern over reports that hundreds of Bangladeshis have been forcibly disappeared over the past two decades. He described enforced disappearances as grave human rights violations causing trauma and mental anguish to victims and their families. He stated, “We welcome the interim government’s efforts to investigate these crimes and encourage a fair and transparent process to ensure justice for the victims and their families.”
Patel reiterated the US’s support for justice through due process and fairness.
Earlier, on Saturday, December 14, the Investigation Commission submitted an interim report to Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The report presented evidence linking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to orders behind enforced disappearances over the past 15 years. It also recommended dissolving the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and initiating judicial proceedings against those involved.
The briefing also touched on the topic of Bangladesh's next general election. A journalist inquired about the US position regarding the announcement of possible election dates in late 2025 or early 2026.
In response, Vedant Patel welcomed the steps taken by the interim government to prepare for elections, emphasizing that these measures would enable the Bangladeshi people to choose their leadership. Patel added, “Determining the timing of elections is an area we will continue to monitor. Throughout the process, we encourage adherence to the rule of law and the implementation of democratic principles. As always, our position remains in favor of free, fair, and peaceful elections conducted transparently.”
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Elon Musk's Starship Rocket Launch Witnessed by Trump
In the presence of newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, SpaceX conducted a test launch of its next-generation Starship rocket. The launch took place on Tuesday, November 19, at the Boca Chica launchpad in Brownsville, Texas.
According to Al Jazeera, this marks the sixth test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket. Trump observed the launch from the control room, and SpaceX declared the test a success.
The Starship is designed to travel to space and return to Earth, with the goal of landing back on its launchpad. While SpaceX had achieved this feat during the fifth test flight, technical challenges led to a shift in strategy.
The AFP reports that SpaceX abandoned plans to catch the booster, opting instead to let it fall into the Gulf of Mexico. After spending about an hour in space, the Starship is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and land in the Indian Ocean.
Trump's presence at the launch highlighted the close relationship between him and Elon Musk. Musk openly supported Trump in the recent U.S. election, contributing over $130 million to his campaign.
Germany's Scholz, China's Xi Hold Talks at G20
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday.
The two leaders discussed the ties between their two major economies, as well as issues such as the war in Ukraine, with their countries supporting opposing sides in the conflict.
Olaf Scholz and Xi Jinping discuss China-Germany relations
"It is important that we ensure that a level playing field accompanies the economic activities of companies on all sides, that is central to the conditions for future work," the German chancellor told Xi.
The Chinese president reportedly urged the development of "strategic" and "long-term" ties between Berlin and Beijing, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
"China and Germany are both major countries with significant influence," Xi told Scholz.
German automakers have recently warned that tit-for-tat tariffs on electric vehicles from China and the EU could hit the German economy hard.
"It is hoped that Europe and China will resolve the issue of electric vehicles through dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible, and the German side is willing to make active efforts in this regard," Xi said, according to Xinhua.
Scholz brings up Ukraine in talk with Xi
Despite the economic ties between Germany and China, the two countries stand in stark opposition regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While Germany has, like its NATO allies, sought to boost Kyiv economically and militarily to help it fend off Russian attacks, China has given its tacit support to the invasion, boosting its ties with Russia.
Scholz brought the issue up with the Chinese president, saying it is important to discuss issues such as "Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine or dangerous situations as we are seeing elsewhere in the world, such as the developments in the Middle East."
"Nobody should have to fear their neighbor — a central principle of the world peace that we are intensely committed to," Scholz told Xi.
He latter added that the presence of North Korean troops in the Ukraine war would mean an "escalation." The German chancellor also told public broadcaster ZDF that he had "made it clear" to Xi that Germany "would not accept China delivering weapons to Russia."
US Charges Indian Billionaire Gautam Adani in Bribery Case
Gautam Adani, the billionaire chairman of Indian conglomerate Adani Group, has been indicted in New York, charged with paying hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes as part of a massive fraud scheme.
Adani, who commands a personal fortune of $69.8 billion (€65.3 billion) according to Forbes magazine, is one of the world's richest people.
He is alleged to have agreed to bribe Indian officials to the tune of about $265 million in return for lucrative solar energy contracts.
What does the indictment say?
"This indictment alleges schemes to pay … bribes to Indian government officials, to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice," said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lisa Miller.
The contracts in question were expected to yield profits of over €2 billion over the next 20 years for Adani and seven fellow defendants, including his nephew Sagar Adani.
"Adani and seven other business executives allegedly bribed the Indian government to finance lucrative contracts designed to benefit their businesses ... while still other defendants allegedly attempted to conceal the bribery conspiracy by obstructing the government's investigation," said the FBI's James Dennehy.
According to the indictment, some conspirators would use the codenames "Numero uno" and "the big man" to refer to Adani in private. Nephew Sagar allegedly logged specific details of bribes on his phone.
Neither Adani Group nor the defendants' lawyers nor the Indian Embassy in Washington have yet commented on the indictment.
None of the defendants in the case, including Adani, are currently in custody but a judge has issued arrest warrants which prosecutors plan to pass on to foreign law enforcement.
Who is Gautam Adani?
Adani was born in Ahmedabad, in India's western Gujarat state, to a middle-class family. At the age of 16 he dropped out of school and moved to financial capital Mumbai to seek work in the city's lucrative gem trade.
He launched the family business which bears his name in 1988 when he branched out into the export trade. Seven years later, he landed a major contract to build and operate a commercial shipping port in Gujarat.
A self-described introvert, Adani rarely speaks to the media and keeps a low public profile.
He is known, however, to be a keen supporter of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also recently took to X, formerly Twitter, to congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump on his election win.
With Trump promising to make it easier for energy companies to drill and build new pipelines, Adani last week announced plans to invest $10 billion into energy security and infrastructure projects in the United States, potentially creating up to 15,000 jobs.
Attack on Passenger Convoy in Pakistan Leaves 41 Dead
At least 41 people, including women and children, were killed in an armed attack on a passenger convoy in the remote mountainous region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. According to local police officials, 16 others were seriously injured in the assault.
The BBC reported that the attack occurred on Thursday, November 21, local time, when a convoy carrying approximately 200 passengers was traveling through the Kurram district near the Afghan border. Armed assailants first targeted the police escort, opening fire, and then began indiscriminately shooting at the entire convoy.
Syeda Banu, a passenger interviewed by BBC Urdu, recounted that she survived by hiding under the seats with her children during the attack. After the gunfire subsided, she saw injured and deceased individuals scattered across the road.
Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, described the attack as a "major tragedy," warning that the death toll could rise further.
Deputy Police Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud stated that around 10 gunmen were involved, firing indiscriminately from both sides of the road. After the attack, police and locals assisted women and others in seeking shelter in nearby houses. A search operation is currently underway to apprehend the assailants.
Preliminary investigations revealed that most of the victims were from the Shia community. The Kurram region has seen significant sectarian violence between Shia and Sunni communities in recent times. Just last month, a similar attack on a passenger convoy in the area claimed 15 lives.
The road where the attack took place had only recently reopened for travel, with journeys permitted solely under police security.
Kurram district shares a border with several Afghan provinces, and the area is known for the active presence of militant groups such as ISIS and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In addition to terrorism, land disputes in the region are also seen as a key driver of violence, according to experts.
The motive and identities of the attackers remain unclear, but Thursday’s attack has raised fresh concerns about the security situation in Kurram.
International Webinar Highlights Future of Digital Journalism
The Department of Journalism at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Pakistan, hosted an international webinar on Wednesday, spotlighting the evolving landscape of digital journalism.
Prashant Kumar Shill, a senior faculty member from Port City International University’s Department of Journalism and Media Studies, delivered the keynote address. His research paper, titled “Online Journalism and Ethics in the 21st Century,” explored the challenges modern journalism faces, emphasizing the growing influence of digital platforms and the profession's future trajectory.
The session was moderated by Dr. Mohammad Aftab Madani, with Professor Dr. Mowdud Ali Shah presiding. Distinguished guests included Professor Dr. Salman Bashir Menon and Department Chair Dr. Dostar Ali Chando.
Final-year journalism students from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University actively participated in the event. Jewel Dash, Chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Port City International University, highlighted the significance of such webinars in fostering academic collaboration between Bangladesh and Pakistan. He extended his gratitude to the organizers for facilitating the initiative.
Indian Navy Submarine Collides With Fishing Boat, 2 Fishermen Missing
"An Indian fishing vessel Marthoma with a crew of 13 reportedly collided with an Indian Naval unit on November 21 about 70 nm North West of Goa," an Indian Navy spokesperson said.
The Ministry of Defence said in an official statement that the vessel Marthoma collided with a Scorpene-class submarine about 70 nautical miles off the Goa coast.
Eleven crew members were rescued, and the search operation to find the two missing crew members is ongoing and coordinated with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai. The Navy has ordered a high-level probe into the matter.
A spokesperson from the Navy said additional assets, from the Coast Guard, were being mobilized and diverted to the area of the incident to help with the rescue efforts.
The Navy deployed six ships and an unknown number of surveillance aircraft in the rescue mission.
The fishing vessel collided with a Scorpene class submarine - which is a crucial part of India's naval strength, capable of executing a wide range of functions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance.
It has superior stealth techniques and low noise levels, making it a deadly and precise weapon.
The cause of the collision between the submarine and the fishing vessel is currently under investigation. The Indian Navy has not released further details on the condition of the two remaining crew members or the vessel's status.
In August this year, a fishing boat collided with a Sri Lankan naval vessel and one fisherman drowned, off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
Xi Jinping Visits Morocco, Meets Crown Prince
China's investments in Morocco's infrastructure and railway have grown in recent years. Xi made the "brief visit" to the African country after wrapping up the G20 summit in Brazil.
Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Morocco on Thursday for a "brief visit," according to Moroccan state media.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, which Morocco's state news agency MAP called a reflection of strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the two countries.
Xi then met Aziz Akhannouch, head of the Moroccan government, and went on to receive honors from the Royal Guard.
The Chinese president visited his trip to Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China eyes Morocco for investment
It comes at a time when China has stepped up its investments in Morocco's infrastructure and railways.
Morocco's proximity to Europe and its free trade agreements with the US and EU make it a lucrative market for Chinese businesses, including electric vehicle manufacturers.
In June, Chinese battery maker Gotion High Tech announced plans to build Africa's first "gigafactory" for $1.3 billion (€1.24 billion).
