United News of Bangladesh

A top US Navy admiral ordered a second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat on September 2, the White House confirmed on Monday. The “double tap” strike has drawn attention from lawmakers and raised questions about its legality. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorised the strikes but did not order the killing of everyone on the boat. “Admiral Bradley acted well within his authority and the law,” she said. Reports said two people survived the first blast and were still clinging to the burning vessel when the second strike killed them. Leavitt did not confirm these details. The Trump administration says its operations target narco-terrorist groups and aim to stop drug trafficking to the United States. Since early September, more than 80 people have been killed in similar strikes in the Caribbean Sea. US officials usually release grainy videos with limited evidence of drug activity or details about those on board. US military operations in the Caribbean have expanded recently. Trump warned that anti-drug efforts “by land” in Venezuela would begin soon. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern about the September 2 strike and plan congressional reviews. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said the committee will interview the admiral in charge and collect audio and video to understand the orders. The House Armed Services Committee said it will lead a bipartisan investigation into the operation. Experts have raised doubts over the legality of the second strike under international law. Survivors may have been protected as shipwrecked people or incapacitated fighters. Geneva Conventions prohibit targeting those unable to fight and require their capture and care. Venezuela condemned the strikes. Its National Assembly said it would investigate the September 2 attack. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab called for direct dialogue with the US to ease tensions, blaming Trump’s allegations on envy of Venezuela’s natural resources. Trump confirmed he spoke briefly with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, pressing him to resign and leave the country with his family. Maduro refused and requested amnesty for top aides and control of the military, both denied by Trump. US officials have accused Maduro of being part of the “Cartel of the Suns,” a group allegedly including high-ranking military and security officials involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denies the claims.   With inputs from BBC

Israel on Tuesday said it had received “findings” handed over by Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Red Cross, believed to include the remains of one of the two hostages still held in the territory — an Israeli and a Thai national. Officials said the remains would be sent for forensic testing. Palestinian media reported they were recovered in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza. The remains of 26 hostages taken during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack have been returned since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on Oct. 10. Israeli fire killed two Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday. Hospital officials at Nasser Hospital said a drone strike in Khan Younis killed videographer Momahed Wadi, who owned a drone photography company that previously filmed weddings and more recently documented the destruction in Gaza. Separately, Al-Awda Hospital said a man was shot dead near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Israel’s military did not comment but has said such shootings often occur when militants approach or fire at its troops. Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 350 Palestinians have been killed across the territory since the ceasefire took effect, as both Hamas and Israel accuse each other of violating the truce. The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023 killed about 1,200 people, and more than 250 others were taken hostage. Almost all of them or their remains have been returned in various agreements. The ministry says Gaza’s death toll has surpassed 70,100. It is staffed by medical professionals and is considered broadly reliable by the international community. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians on Tuesday. The military said one suspect stabbed and lightly wounded two soldiers near a settlement in the central West Bank before being shot. Another was fatally shot in the southern West Bank after allegedly carrying out a car-ramming attack that wounded a soldier. The army said the man tried to flee when troops attempted to arrest him. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two as an 18-year-old from north of Ramallah and a 17-year-old from Hebron. Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, saying it aims to dismantle militant networks. Palestinians say many of those killed have been stone-throwers, protesters or civilians. Israeli settler violence against Palestinians has also risen in recent weeks. Israeli forces on Tuesday demolished the Nablus-area family home of Abdul Karim Sanoubar, a detained Palestinian accused of planting bombs on buses in central Israel in February. Thirteen surrounding homes were evacuated. Israel says such demolitions deter attacks, while critics call them collective punishment that inflames tensions. The military said the explosives in that planned attack never detonated and that the demolition was approved by legal authorities. Troops later moved to Aqabah town to demolish the home of another man accused of carrying out a shooting that killed one person. Israel also launched more strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed calls for a demilitarized buffer zone along the Israel-Syria border while visiting soldiers wounded in Syria. Syrian officials said 13 people were killed Friday when Israeli forces opened fire during a raid on a village as residents confronted them. Israel says its operations in Lebanon and Syria target militants, but critics say civilians — including women and children — are frequently among the dead. Pope Leo XIV, departing Lebanon on a visit to the Middle East, briefly urged peace and noted the continued violence in southern Lebanon.  

Bulgaria’s government on Tuesday withdrew its controversial draft budget after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in nationwide protests that later turned violent. The budget plan, which proposed higher taxes, increased social security contributions and expanded public spending, drew strong criticism from opposition parties, business groups and economists. Critics warned that the measures would stifle investment, push more economic activity underground and jeopardize the country’s preparations to join the eurozone early next year. Authorities initially pledged last week to revise the draft after early demonstrations but later walked back the promise, triggering even larger protests in Sofia and several major cities on Monday night. Organizers said about 50,000 people joined the rally in the capital. The demonstration, largely driven by young people, began peacefully, with crowds chanting “We will not allow ourselves to be lied to” and “Resignation.” Protesters displayed banners reading “Generation Z is Coming” and “Young Bulgaria Without the Mafia,” demanding that the government either overhaul the draft or step down. Organizers urged participants to avoid violence and record any provocations. Tensions escalated later in the night as smaller groups moved toward the offices of ruling parties and threw plastic and glass bottles, stones and firecrackers at buildings and police officers. Clashes broke out between riot police and groups of masked youths wearing black hoodies. Garbage bins were set on fire, police vehicles were vandalized, and officers used pepper spray to disperse crowds. Emergency services said several injured people were taken to hospitals, while many others received on-site treatment. Police reported detaining 10 individuals. Opponents of the budget argued that the spending increases would be financed mainly through heavier tax burdens on workers and businesses, along with a steep rise in public debt, which they said would fuel inflation without improving public services. The government, however, maintained that the draft budget was essential for meeting eurozone rules, including keeping the deficit below 3% of GDP.  

Russia has introduced visa-free entry for Chinese citizens for stays of up to 30 days, following a decree signed Monday by President Vladimir Putin on the basis of reciprocity with Beijing. The measure took effect immediately. Under the decree, valid through Sept 14, 2026, holders of regular Chinese passports may enter Russia for short stays of no more than 30 days for purposes such as tourism, business travel, family visits, participation in cultural, scientific, economic, socio-political or sports events, or for transit. No visa will be required for these categories. The exemption, however, does not apply to Chinese citizens seeking to work, study or reside in Russia, nor to those involved in international road transport as drivers, crew members, freight forwarders or interpreters. Tourism industry representatives in Moscow said the policy is expected to significantly boost arrivals from China. Alexander Musikhin, vice president for inbound tourism at the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, predicted a 30–40 percent rise in Chinese tourists during the summer season. The decree will also spur independent travel and business visits, said Alexander Bragin of the Russian Association of Travel Aggregators, who estimated that individual arrivals could increase by up to twofold. He noted that the policy is likely to improve hotel occupancy even during off-peak months. Nikita Kondratyev of Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development said China already accounts for the highest number of inbound tourist trips to Russia. With the new visa-free system in place, he expects the number of Chinese visitors to exceed 2 million next year. China, for its part, began a one-year trial of a similar 30-day visa-free scheme for Russian citizens on Sept 15, covering travel for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and transit.  

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, carrying a preliminary peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Ireland, continuing his tour of European nations that have supported Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. After months of stalled diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump is deploying officials to advance his peace proposals. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, will also attend the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that discussions will involve only Witkoff, Kushner, and a U.S. interpreter and will continue “as long as needed.” The U.S. has so far pursued parallel talks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Ukrainian officials while Witkoff heads to Moscow. Zelenskyy met Tuesday with the Ukrainian delegation that returned from the latest U.S. negotiations in Florida. Rubio described the talks as “progressing,” while noting that “more work remains.” Zelenskyy said the Florida discussions were based on a document drafted earlier in Geneva, which he described as “finalized,” without further explanation. He emphasized that Ukrainian diplomats are working to involve European partners “substantially” in decision-making and warned of Russian disinformation campaigns. “Ukrainian intelligence will share with our partners information on Russia’s true intentions and its attempts to use diplomacy to ease sanctions and block key European decisions,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. In Dublin, Zelenskyy held meetings with Irish political leaders and lawmakers during his first official visit. Ireland, a neutral country outside NATO, has provided nonlethal military aid to Ukraine and hosts over 100,000 Ukrainians who fled the war. Despite ongoing consultations, few details have emerged on bridging the gap between Russia and Ukraine. Disagreements over territorial control and Ukraine’s security remain major obstacles, with European officials cautioning that peace will take time. French President Emmanuel Macron said he and Zelenskyy, who recently visited Paris, spoke by phone with Witkoff, along with leaders of eight other European countries, EU officials, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Macron described the coming days as “crucial” for U.S. and Western discussions. Zelenskyy faces immense pressure amid one of the war’s most challenging periods, balancing diplomacy, funding for Ukraine, a high-level corruption scandal, and ongoing Russian attacks. The Kremlin claimed late Monday that Russian forces captured the key city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, though Zelenskyy said fighting there continued on Monday.  

Following last week’s shooting of two National Guard members in Washington by a suspect who is an Afghan national, the Trump administration has announced a series of measures aimed at tightening entry and residency rules for certain foreigners. The administration said it is pausing asylum decisions, reviewing green card applications from people from “countries of concern,” and halting visas for Afghans who assisted the U.S. war effort. A memo obtained by The Associated Press revealed that, even before the shooting, the administration planned to review the cases of all refugees admitted to the U.S. during the Biden administration. Refugee advocates and Afghan support groups have criticized the moves as collective punishment and a waste of resources, arguing that reopening processed cases is unnecessary. The Trump administration maintains that the policies are needed to ensure individuals entering or already in the country do not pose security threats. All asylum decisions suspended Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said on the social platform X last week that asylum decisions will be paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” Aside from this post, no formal guidance has been issued, leaving details about the pause unclear. Asylum seekers must demonstrate that they would face persecution if returned to their home countries due to race, nationality, or other grounds. Successful applicants are allowed to stay in the U.S. and can eventually apply for green cards and citizenship. The Afghan suspect in the National Guard shooting was granted asylum earlier this year, according to advocacy group #AfghanEvac. Trump had already restricted asylum applications. In January, he issued an executive order effectively halting asylum for people entering through the southern border, whose cases are processed through immigration courts overseen by the Justice Department. Edlow’s post indicates that USCIS asylum cases, not previously affected by Trump’s order, will now receive additional scrutiny. He did not specify how long the pause will last or what will happen to applicants during it. Caseloads are rising: USCIS currently has 1.4 million pending asylum cases, compared with 241,280 in 2022, according to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics. Separately, around 2.4 million asylum applications are pending in the Justice Department’s immigration courts. Focus on countries ‘of concern’ On Nov. 27, Edlow announced a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of every green card for people from “every country of concern.” “American safety is non negotiable,” Edlow said. The agency’s press release said new guidance could make it harder for people from 19 “high-risk” countries, including Afghanistan, to apply for immigration benefits, such as green cards or extended stays. The administration had previously banned travel for citizens from 12 of these countries and restricted access for seven others. No visas for Afghans USCIS announced on Nov. 26 that it would suspend all “immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals,” affecting those in the U.S. seeking green cards, work permits, or family reunification. Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the State Department has temporarily stopped issuing visas for Afghan passport holders. Previously, the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program allowed Afghans who assisted U.S. efforts and faced retribution to emigrate. The State Department’s new policy effectively closes this pathway. According to #AfghanEvac, about 180,000 Afghans were in the process of applying for SIVs. Review of refugees admitted under Biden administration Even before the shooting, the Trump administration planned to review tens of thousands of refugees admitted under the Biden administration through the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program, which helps people fleeing persecution. Unlike asylum seekers, refugees apply from abroad. Edlow’s memo obtained by AP on Nov. 21 stated that all refugees admitted during the Biden administration, nearly 200,000 people, would be reviewed. Advocates note that refugees already undergo rigorous vetting. Noem hints at updated travel ban Late Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested more changes could come. She said on X that after meeting Trump, she was recommending a “full travel ban” on countries she said were flooding the U.S. “with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.” Noem did not name specific countries or provide a timeline. The Department of Homeland Security said in an email, “We will be announcing the list soon.”

Authorities at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Tuesday allowed PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khanum, to meet the incarcerated former prime minister. Uzma visited her brother as scores of PTI supporters, who had accompanied her, gathered outside the prison, According to Pakistan news website Dawn. The development comes amid ongoing PTI protests outside the Islamabad High Court and Adiala Jail, opposing restrictions on Imran Khan’s visitation rights. The party has claimed that the former premier’s family and party leaders had been denied access for several weeks. According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, no one had been allowed to meet Imran or his wife, Bushra Bibi, since October 27. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ahead of PTI’s protests. The provision empowers district administrations to prohibit assemblies of four or more people in a designated area for a limited period. Tallal’s warning Earlier, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said that compliance with Section 144 would be strictly enforced in both cities. “Whether they come to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) or the Adiala jail, action under Section 144 would be carried out without any discrimination,” Chaudhry said, urging PTI-backed parliamentarians to “abide by the law.” Chaudhry linked the measure to terrorism, warning that “terrorists look for instances [which they can use] to spread fear and make headlines; be it [a] political gathering, courts or important places or offices.” He also highlighted the misuse of social media and VPNs for terrorist communication, adding that the interior ministry, in coordination with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), would address the issue. He noted the Peshawar High Court’s ruling that state resources should not be used for political activities. “We hope that the KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) chief minister, who repeatedly comes to Islamabad and Pindi, will not use state resources for his political activities,” Chaudhry said, asserting that KP police would be deployed only within KP. Chaudhry stressed that Section 144 was imposed to protect lives, recalling the May 9, 2023, protests following Imran’s arrest. He said, “They will do it themselves just like on May 9, and entire Pakistan will face the consequences. They will do it themselves, and will then deny [any responsibility].” Regarding a possible transfer of Imran to a jail in Islamabad, the minister said, “It is too early to say anything,” noting that the prison’s construction is in its final stages and staff training is pending. Security beefed up in Rawalpindi Rawalpindi police said at least 3,000 officers were deployed to ensure law and order. “Section 144 has been imposed across Rawalpindi for three days which restricts unlawful assembly, rally and protest,” the statement said. Roads leading to key government buildings and the Adiala jail were reported blocked. PTI leader Asad Qaiser said opposition lawmakers from both houses would protest outside the IHC before taking their demonstration to Adiala Jail. “It has been decided to hold protests because IHC has failed to implement its order and the Adiala jail administration is not willing to implement the court orders,” he said. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other leaders are also scheduled to stage demonstrations in the twin cities. Last week, KP Chief Minister Afridi staged a sit-in outside the prison after being barred from meeting Imran for the eighth time. Imran’s sisters have previously staged sit-ins outside Adiala Jail, and the PTI alleged that police had “violently detained” them during a protest on November 19. Despite speculations about the former prime minister’s health, both the government and PTI leaders have maintained that he remains in good health.

Hong Kong will establish an independent inquiry committee, chaired by a judge, to investigate the cause of a devastating apartment block fire and recommend reforms to prevent similar disasters, Chief Executive John Lee announced Tuesday. Public pressure for accountability has grown sharply as authorities confirmed the death toll had risen to at least 156, with around 30 people still unaccounted for. Lee pledged to confront entrenched interests and overhaul Hong Kong’s building renovation system. The blaze erupted last Wednesday around scaffolding at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, quickly engulfing seven of its eight towers and leaving thousands of residents displaced. Forty people remain hospitalized. At least 14 individuals — including scaffolding contractors, company heads and an engineering consultant — have been arrested on suspicion of corruption and negligence linked to the renovation project. Hong Kong probes corruption, negligence after deadliest fire in decades claims 128 lives Investigators are examining why the fire spread so rapidly, aided by high winds and allegedly substandard construction materials. Authorities said seven of 20 netting samples collected failed safety standards and that inferior materials were mixed with approved ones to deceive inspectors. Lee would not address reports of arrests tied to criticism of the government but warned he would not tolerate any crimes exploiting the tragedy. He said 2,500 people have been relocated to temporary housing, while about 20 remain in shelters. Source: AP 

Recent warnings from both the United States and Russia about restarting nuclear weapons testing have triggered deep concern worldwide, threatening a long-standing international norm that has curbed such tests for decades. Analysts say the rhetoric from the two biggest nuclear powers risks undermining global nonproliferation efforts and heightening geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump announced in late October that Washington would resume nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with other countries, a directive that he said would begin immediately. Moscow quickly countered, with President Vladimir Putin telling his Security Council that Russia would respond in kind if the U.S. or any signatory of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) conducts a test. The CTBT, adopted in 1996 after growing concerns about radioactive fallout from Cold War–era atmospheric tests, established a near-universal expectation against nuclear testing, even though it has never formally entered into force. Of the 44 states required for activation, nine — including the U.S., China, India and Pakistan — have not ratified it. Russia ratified the treaty but revoked its ratification in 2023, citing U.S. inaction. The Vienna-based Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization oversees a vast global detection system with 307 monitoring stations capable of identifying nuclear tests using seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide technology. Its 2025 budget exceeds $139 million. Experts warn that renewed U.S. testing could open the door for countries with less experience — particularly China and India — to conduct full-scale tests that could help them advance smaller, more sophisticated warheads, ultimately weakening U.S. and global security. Since 1996, only 10 nuclear tests have been carried out, all by India, Pakistan and North Korea. Historically, the U.S. and the Soviet Union conducted the overwhelming majority of roughly 2,000 tests before the CTBT’s adoption. No evidence Iran seeks nuclear weapons: Putin While Washington has not clarified the type of testing Trump meant, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said any upcoming activities would involve subcritical experiments — tests that do not trigger a nuclear chain reaction and do not violate the CTBT’s zero-yield standard. However, experts note that some extremely low-yield hydronuclear tests can evade detection, highlighting a verification gap. The CTBTO says its main mission is to assure member states that any nuclear explosion “anywhere, anytime” would be detected. Its network has successfully identified all six North Korean tests between 2006 and 2017. Source: AP 

Rescue teams are scrambling to locate survivors and retrieve bodies after devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand pushed the combined death toll past 1,200, with hundreds still unaccounted for. Days of relentless monsoon rain submerged large swaths of land, leaving thousands marooned and many taking refuge on rooftops. Authorities reported at least 1,230 fatalities — 659 in Indonesia, 390 in Sri Lanka and 181 in Thailand — while more than 800 people remain missing. Indonesia has suffered the worst impact, with rescuers struggling to reach isolated communities in Sumatra as washed-out roads and collapsed bridges hamper access. The national disaster agency said 475 people are still missing, and adverse weather is slowing air and water operations. In Sri Lanka, military teams are combing through areas ravaged by floods and landslides linked to Cyclone Ditwah, with 352 people still missing. Transport remains severely disrupted due to damaged roads and infrastructure. In Kandy, residents face water shortages and rely on bottled water from natural springs as more rainfall is expected. Cyclone Ditwa: Bangladesh to send relief, rescue team to Sri Lanka on Dec 3 Southern Thailand has begun clearing debris after floods affected over 1.5 million households and nearly 4 million people. Authorities are rushing to restore essential services, while the Interior Ministry plans to open public kitchens and distribute compensation worth 239 million baht ($7.4 million) to 26,000 affected residents. Source: AP