United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new travel ban that will block entry to the U.S. for citizens from 12 countries and impose restrictions on visitors from seven others. The measure, set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, marks a revival of one of Trump’s most controversial first-term policies — this time with advance notice to avoid the airport disruptions seen during the 2017 rollout. Among the 12 nations facing a full travel ban are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Meanwhile, travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will be subject to additional restrictions. In a social media video, Trump linked the decision to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, highlighting visa overstays as a national security concern. The suspect in that incident is from Egypt, which is not among the countries listed in the new policy. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the individual had overstayed a tourist visa. Trump had hinted at reintroducing the ban after returning to office in January, and with backing from a prior Supreme Court ruling, he is seen to have a stronger legal footing this time.

Hunan Province in Central China has introduced 10 policies to strengthen cooperation with German-speaking countries and regions, the provincial Department of Commerce announced on Wednesday. The measures, effective immediately and set to remain in place for three years, aim to enhance the integration of industrial, innovation and talent chains, and to boost high-standard opening up. German-speaking countries and regions are leading in sectors such as auto manufacturing, engineering machinery and smart manufacturing, complementing Hunan's industries. A total of 34 German firms, including Bosch and Schaeffler, had cumulatively invested 2.23 billion U.S. dollars in Hunan by the end of 2024. The new policy measures cover trade, innovation, talent, finance and logistics, among others. Specific measures include those to facilitate business matches, attract projects, build cooperation platforms, and support local firms in expanding abroad. Separately, Hunan has also rolled out eight measures to ease entry, work permit, business establishment and daily life services for foreign nationals, effective June 1. Local officials of the provincial department of commerce said that all of these new measures will optimize Hunan's business environment, boost two-way investment, and enhance the province's international industrial integration. 

The United Nations human rights office expressed concerns on Wednesday about the discovery of dozens of bodies, some charred and buried and others in hospital refrigerators, in an area of Libya’s capital controlled by an armed militia whose leader was killed last month. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he was shocked by revelations that gross rights violations were uncovered at detention facilities in Tripoli run by the Stabilization Support Authority, or SSA, an armed group whose commander Abdel-Ghani al-Kikli, was killed in militia fighting in mid-May. The rights office said it later received information on the excavation of 10 charred bodies at the SSA headquarters in the Abu Salim neighborhood and another 67 bodies discovered in refrigerators in the Abu Salim and Al Khadra hospitals. It also cited reports of a burial site at the Tripoli Zoo that was run by the SSA. The office said the identities of the bodies were not immediately clear. “Our worst held fears are being confirmed: dozens of bodies have been discovered at these sites, along with the discovery of suspected instruments of torture and abuse, and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings,” Türk said in a statement. Türk called on authorities to seal the area to preserve evidence and said there needed to be accountability for the killings. He said the U.N. should be granted access to the sites to document rights violations.

Gaza has become worse than hell on Earth, said president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric. Speaking in a BBC interview at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, Spoljaric says humanity is failing. “States are not doing enough to end the war, end the suffering of Palestinians and release Israeli hostages,” she adds. According to Spoljaric, Palestinians are being denied their basic human dignity, and the principles of international humanitarian law are being severely undermined. What’s happening in Gaza, she said, exceeds all boundaries of legal, moral, and humanitarian norms. The ICRC, a neutral body working in conflict zones, currently has over 300 staff in Gaza—most of them local Palestinians. Its surgical hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza, is the nearest medical facility to recent chaotic scenes where many Palestinians were killed during desperate aid distributions near sites associated with the Israel and US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). On one recent morning, the Rafah hospital treated 184 people—19 of whom were dead on arrival, and eight more died shortly after. This marked the highest single-incident casualty figure at the facility since its establishment just over a year ago. As the guardian of the Geneva Conventions—particularly the Fourth Convention, established after World War II to safeguard civilians during conflict—the ICRC insists that the laws of war apply to all sides. Spoljaric emphasized that Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, do not justify the scale of destruction unfolding now. She expressed alarm over the rising rhetoric of “total war,” the pursuit of victory at any cost, and growing dehumanization.

Several people were feared dead and many more injured in a stampede on Wednesday outside a cricket stadium in southern India. According to AP, the incident happened as thousands of cricket fans gathered outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru city to celebrate the winners of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is the world’s most popular T20 cricket tournament. RCB’s IPL triumph belongs to Virat Kohli most of all The Times of India newspaper reported at least seven people had died in the crush. Local TV news channels showed visuals of police shifting the injured persons and those who fell unconscious to ambulances. There was no immediate comment from the authorities.

Europe and the United States are meeting in Paris to negotiate a resolution to an escalating tariff conflict that has serious global economic implications. Maroš Šefčovič, the European Union’s chief trade negotiator, met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting. Šefčovič shared a photo of their handshake on social media platform X, stating that both sides are "advancing in the right direction at pace" and maintaining close contact to keep up the momentum. Germany unveils tax plan to spur investment, revive economy Despite the ongoing talks, Brussels and Washington are not expected to finalize a meaningful trade agreement during the Paris meeting due to the complexity of the issues involved. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to express frustration over the persistent U.S. trade deficit with the EU, which reached a record $161 billion last year, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. He attributes the imbalance to unfair trade practices and often criticizes the EU’s 10% tariff on imported cars. By contrast, the U.S. tariff was 2.5% before Trump raised it to 25% in April. The EU counters that its purchases of American services—especially in the tech sector—significantly offset the goods deficit. The trade tensions intensified after the Trump administration unexpectedly imposed new steel tariffs last week, shaking global markets and further complicating the broader negotiations with the EU. In response, the EU announced on Monday that it is preparing “countermeasures” against the United States. As part of its negotiating position, the EU has proposed a “zero-for-zero” deal that would eliminate tariffs on all industrial goods, including automobiles. Trump has so far rejected this proposal, though EU officials insist it remains available for discussion. The EU may be open to buying more U.S. liquefied natural gas and defense products and lowering auto tariffs. However, it is unlikely to concede on scrapping the value-added tax (VAT)—a sales tax-like levy—which the U.S. views as a trade barrier. Nor is the EU expected to open its market to more American beef. French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said in Paris on Wednesday that there is still time to negotiate. “If the discussion and negotiation do not succeed, Europe is capable of having countermeasures on American products and services as well,” he warned. Greta Peisch, who served as general counsel for the U.S. Trade Representative during the Biden administration and is now a partner at law firm Wiley Rein, suggested the zero-for-zero deal could be a viable path forward—if the Trump administration is interested in avoiding more tariffs. However, she questioned Washington’s commitment, noting Trump’s longstanding criticism of EU trade policies. Among Trump’s key complaints is the VAT system, which he and his advisers see as unfairly protectionist because it is applied to U.S. exports. However, VATs—implemented at the national level rather than by the EU itself—are applied equally to domestic and imported goods, and have traditionally not been viewed as trade barriers. Major changes to national tax systems to satisfy U.S. demands appear unlikely. European leaders are also expected to resist U.S. demands to eliminate food and safety regulations that Washington views as non-tariff trade barriers. These include bans on hormone-treated beef, chlorinated chicken, and genetically modified foods. Spain cancels contract for anti-tank missiles built by Israeli subsidiary William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official, noted, “When you start talking about chickens or GMOs or automobile safety standards, you’re talking about the ways countries choose to regulate their economies.” While the U.S. sees such regulations as protectionist, European nations argue they are essential for public health—an enduring point of contention for over six decades.  

Germany's new government on Wednesday launched a package of tax breaks and eventual tax cuts for companies, moving to encourage investment as it tries to give new momentum to an economy that has shrunk for the past two years and is expected to stagnate this year. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Cabinet approved the so-called growth booster programme, which must still be passed by lawmakers. Its central component is a hefty tax write-off on investments in machinery and other equipment over the next three years, followed by a gradual reduction of the corporate tax rate from 15 per cent to 10 per cent between 2028 and 2032, reports AP. Spain cancels contract for anti-tank missiles built by Israeli subsidiary There will also be tax breaks over the next 2.5 years for companies that buy electric cars and measures to encourage investment in research. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who is also the vice chancellor, said that “we are making Germany as a location more competitive internationally.” Germany has Europe's biggest economy. Several industry associations have already called for more help, for example, in bringing down electricity prices. The package launched Wednesday is separate from a 500 billion-euro ($570 billion) fund that Merz's coalition pushed through parliament before it even took office last month to pour money into Germany’s creaking infrastructure over the next 12 years. Klingbeil said that the government plans to launch legislation formally setting up that fund in late June.

South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung vowed Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and bolster a trilateral partnership with the US and Japan, as he laid out key policy goals for his single, five-year term. Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year. According to AP, in his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with North Korean nuclear threats and its potential military aggressions with “strong deterrence” based on the South Korea-US military alliance. But he said he would “open a communication channel with North Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.” South Koreans vote for new president in wake of Yoon's ouster over martial law He said he’ll pursue pragmatic diplomacy with neighbouring countries and boost trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation. "Through pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, we will turn the crisis posed by the major shift in global economic and security landscapes into an opportunity to maximize our national interests,” Lee said. It was unclear whether Lee’s election would cause any major, immediate shift in South Korea’s foreign policy. Lee, previously accused by critics of tilting toward China and North Korea and away from the US and Japan, has recently repeatedly stressed South Korea’s alliance with the US as the foundation of its foreign policy and avoided any contentious remarks that would raise questions on his views on the US and Japan.

Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world converge in Makkah for Hajj, a powerful spiritual event that showcases the unity of the Islamic faith across cultures and nationalities. With such massive diversity and volume of people in a limited geographical space, particularly around the Grand Mosque and nearby holy sites, managing the flow of pilgrims becomes a major challenge. Though Hajj is a sacred religious duty, ensuring the safety and organized movement of pilgrims involves extensive planning, technological innovation, and collaboration between various sectors—security, healthcare, service providers, and tech teams. What are the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha? Why are they important to muslims? Saudi authorities have adopted a centralized, data-driven system to manage crowd movement, using real-time data from surveillance cameras, drones, and tracking apps. This allows them to swiftly detect and respond to emergencies, ease congestion, and guide pilgrims efficiently to ensure rituals proceed smoothly and respectfully. A Global Model of Crowd Management Crowd management expert Akram Jan emphasized the complexity of overseeing the movement of over two million people in such tight quarters, calling it an impressive achievement on a global scale. He praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the field, citing its meticulous planning, synchronized inter-agency coordination, and highly trained ground teams as key to its success. A Shift Toward a Year-Round, High-Tech Pilgrimage Experience Hotelier Mohammed Hakim reflected on how the Kingdom's approach to Hajj and Umrah has evolved, transforming the pilgrimage experience from a seasonal religious duty to a sophisticated, year-round service industry. He highlighted how the Kingdom has entered the era of “Smart Hajj,” where crowd control is managed via digital tools, food is distributed through apps, and accommodation standards are monitored in real time using sensors and analytics. Hakim noted that the entire pilgrim experience—from arrival to departure—is now assessed with unprecedented digital transparency, focused on ensuring comfort, safety, and satisfaction. This digital transformation reflects a broader vision: to develop a continuously improving, integrated pilgrimage system rooted in values, innovation, and human-centered progress—turning Hajj into a model of excellence for the modern era. Source: Arab News

Muslims from across the globe are gathering in Mecca for Hajj, one of Islam’s Five Pillars. Over the coming days, pilgrims will take part in centuries-old religious rites. But this year, they also face modern-day challenges, including sweltering heat, age restrictions, and tighter regulations on entry. Coping with Intense Heat Last year, extreme temperatures reaching 47°C (117°F) led to over 1,300 deaths. In 2025, temperatures in Mecca are already around 41°C (106°F). Saudi officials are urging pilgrims to limit sun exposure, wear light-colored clothes, and use umbrellas. Pilgrims are also being educated on recognizing dehydration and heat exhaustion. Despite billions spent on safety and cooling measures, the desert heat and massive crowds remain a significant risk. Children Under 12 Not Allowed In a major shift, children under 12 are now banned from attending the Hajj. Saudi authorities introduced the policy to protect children from potential harm amid large crowds and extreme heat. While Islamic teachings do not require children to perform Hajj or other obligations until puberty, some parents still wish to bring them for the experience. Many, like Talha Ayub from Pakistan, are choosing to leave their children at home for a safer and more manageable pilgrimage. 18 teams assigned to serve Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims in Mina Making Hajj More Affordable The cost of Hajj varies widely—from $4,000 to $20,000—depending on the level of service and travel origin. Rising costs have made it harder for many Muslims to attend, particularly from developing countries. Some governments, like Pakistan’s, have introduced flexible payment plans to help more people afford the journey. Saudi Arabia has also implemented staggered payment options for local pilgrims, requiring installments over several months. Managing Demand and Preventing Unauthorized Entry Due to capacity limits and high demand, waitlists in countries like Indonesia stretch over decades. Some nations have banned repeat pilgrims to give others a chance, including India, which blocks those who have already gone through official channels—except in specific cases such as assisting elderly relatives. To combat unauthorized pilgrimages, Saudi Arabia recently stopped issuing short-term visas for 14 countries and warned of heavy fines—up to 20,000 riyals (about $5,330)—for anyone caught entering Mecca without the proper Hajj visa. Many of the deaths during last year’s pilgrimage were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to official services, including cooling and medical care.