United News of Bangladesh

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, a global clean energy leader – convened an exclusive, high-level business forum in Madrid to strengthen partnerships and position the company for its next phase of growth in the Iberian market. Led by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of Masdar, the Tuesday gathering assembled senior representatives from Spanish and Portuguese government entities, regulatory bodies, utilities, institutional investors, offtakers, and technology providers. The discussion centered on accelerating the Iberian Peninsula’s energy transformation and reinforcing Spain’s role as a strategic hub within Masdar’s European portfolio. A cornerstone of Masdar’s European expansion strategy is its US $1.4 billion acquisition of Saeta, finalized last year. Operating across Spain and Portugal, Saeta now serves as a primary platform for scaling Masdar’s renewable-energy footprint and advancing regional decarbonization objectives. Uzbekistan signs energy agreements with UAE's Mubadala, Masdar During his visit to Saeta’s Madrid headquarters, Dr Al Jaber met with executive leadership and employees, celebrating the successful integration and outlining an ambitious roadmap to amplify Saeta’s market impact. Masdar’s European investments continue to diversify through multiple channels. In addition to the Saeta transaction, Masdar concluded a €3.2 billion acquisition of TERNA ENERGY in Greece and entered a €1.7 billion strategic partnership with Endesa in Spain, acquiring a 49.99 percent stake in a 2.5GW portfolio of renewable assets – one of Spain’s largest clean-energy transactions in recent years. Since its establishment in 2006, Masdar has developed and partnered in projects in over 40 countries, with a mandate to increase its renewable energy portfolio capacity to 100GW by 2030.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday cautioned the United States, South Korea, and Japan against forming a security alliance targeting North Korea, as he wrapped up a visit aimed at strengthening Russia’s growing military and diplomatic ties with Pyongyang. Lavrov arrived in North Korea’s eastern city of Wonsan on Friday to meet with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. The two officials held talks on deepening cooperation between the two countries, which have seen increasingly close relations amid shared opposition to Western influence. North Korea has reportedly been supplying Russia with ammunition and even troops to support its war in Ukraine. In return, Pyongyang is believed to be receiving military and economic assistance from Moscow—a partnership that has sparked concern in Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, particularly over the potential transfer of sensitive technology that could boost North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Speaking after his meeting with Choe, Lavrov condemned what he called the growing military buildup by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan near North Korea. "We warn against turning these partnerships into alliances directed against anyone—be it North Korea or Russia,” Lavrov said, according to Russian state-run news agency Tass. The warning comes amid intensifying trilateral military cooperation among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, which held joint air drills on Friday involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula. Top military officials from the three nations also met in Seoul, urging North Korea to stop its destabilizing activities and ongoing weapons development. North Korea routinely condemns such military exercises as rehearsals for invasion, claiming that its nuclear weapons program is a necessary deterrent against U.S. hostility. Lavrov voiced support for North Korea’s stance, saying the country’s nuclear program is the product of its own scientific development and reflects legitimate security concerns. “We understand why North Korea is pursuing nuclear capabilities and respect its right to self-defense,” he said. During their talks, Choe reiterated North Korea’s unwavering support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling the bilateral relationship an “invincible alliance.” Lavrov expressed appreciation for what he described as North Korea’s contribution to Russia’s defense efforts, including the deployment of troops to counter a Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk border region. Lavrov also praised North Korea’s new Wonsan-Kalma coastal resort, where the meeting was held, and promoted the idea of boosting tourism between the two nations. “We believe Russian tourists will be increasingly interested in visiting here, and we will work to support that—especially through air travel,” Lavrov said. The Wonsan-Kalma zone is part of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s strategy to develop tourism as a way to revitalize the country’s struggling economy. However, North Korea’s strict border controls and limited engagement with Western countries continue to hinder the sector’s prospects.

At least two people were killed and several others injured as Russia launched a massive overnight drone and missile assault on Ukraine, continuing a heightened campaign of aerial attacks that has further diminished hopes for ending the war now in its fourth year. In the southwestern Chernivtsi region, two people died and 14 were injured when Russian forces struck the Bukovina area with four drones and a missile, according to regional Governor Ruslan Zaparaniuk. The fatalities reportedly occurred due to falling debris from a downed drone. Elsewhere, six people were wounded in a drone strike on Ukraine’s western Lviv region, Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, eight drones and two missiles struck overnight, leaving three people injured, said Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a total of 597 drones and decoys, along with 26 cruise missiles, during the attack. Of these, Ukrainian defenses managed to shoot down 319 drones and 25 cruise missiles, while 258 decoy drones were likely neutralized through electronic jamming. The overnight barrage follows a series of record-setting drone attacks in recent weeks. Earlier this week, Russia fired over 700 drones and decoys in a single night, targeting Lutsk near the Polish border—an area critical for receiving foreign military supplies. In response to the escalation, Poland’s air force scrambled fighter jets near its border with Ukraine. US selling weapons to NATO allies for Ukraine support Russia's intensified long-range strikes appear to be part of a broader strategy aimed at overwhelming Ukraine's defenses, coinciding with renewed Russian efforts to break through positions along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 33 Ukrainian drones overnight.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has accused Israel of orchestrating a brutal campaign in Gaza, describing it as a calculated effort to cause widespread death and suffering. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, said Gaza has become a "graveyard for children and starving people," with residents left to choose between dying of hunger or being shot. Since May, approximately 800 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Most of these deaths occurred near sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid organization supported by both Israel and the United States that has largely replaced the UN-led aid distribution network in the Strip. Lazzarini’s remarks followed Thursday’s deadly incident in Deir el-Balah, where Israeli forces killed 15 people — including nine children and four women — as they waited for food. That same day, 45 people were reported killed across Gaza, including 11 near a GHF distribution center in Rafah. UN data shows that since May, 819 people have died near aid sites, with 634 of them killed close to GHF centers. The remaining 185 died near other humanitarian convoys, including UN operations. At the UN headquarters in New York, the World Food Programme’s Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau described the situation in Gaza as “the worst he has ever seen.” Despite having enough food supplies to support all Gazans for two months, Skau said WFP trucks have not been allowed entry. With UN efforts sidelined, Palestinians have been forced to rely on the GHF, whose role and placement of aid centers have drawn intense scrutiny. Some analysts argue that the aid distribution system is part of an Israeli plan to push Palestinians into southern Gaza. British-Israeli analyst Daniel Levy said this is part of a deliberate strategy to displace and confine Gaza’s population — an act he likened to a second Nakba, the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948. Israel’s plan includes creating a so-called “humanitarian city” in Rafah to house Gaza’s 2.1 million people — a concept critics say resembles a concentration camp. Despite mounting criticism, GHF claimed on Friday it was “reinventing” aid distribution, using “secure and innovative channels” to deliver supplies directly to those in need. Escalating Violence and Humanitarian Collapse By Friday night, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 45 deaths since dawn. Among them, at least eight were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Jabalia used as a shelter. One witness described finding bodies of civilians — including a young girl — in horrific condition. Elsewhere, a child was killed and others wounded when Israeli forces hit a house in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood. Gaza’s hospitals, already overwhelmed and lacking fuel, are on the verge of collapse. The Health Ministry said the lack of electricity is forcing medical facilities to shut down essential services, including kidney dialysis. With too few ambulances, civilians have resorted to transporting the wounded in animal carts. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric warned that Israel’s restrictions on aid access are endangering countless lives. He said the denial of humanitarian assistance is “life-threatening” and emphasized that every day without a ceasefire adds to the toll of preventable deaths — including children dying in agony and civilians being shot as they try to reach dwindling supplies of food. Source: AL Jazeera 

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop carrying out broad and indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups, which accused the administration of unlawfully targeting Latino individuals across Southern California. The plaintiffs include three undocumented workers and two U.S. citizens—one of whom was detained despite showing valid identification. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, seeks to stop what advocates call unconstitutional enforcement methods, including racially motivated arrests without warrants and denial of legal counsel to detainees held at a detention facility in downtown Los Angeles. Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, rejected the allegations, calling them “disgusting and categorically FALSE.” She maintained that enforcement operations are precise and based on thorough investigation. Judge Maame E. Frimpong issued temporary emergency orders to block these practices while the case proceeds. One of her rulings also prohibits federal authorities from limiting attorney access to the downtown LA immigration facility. In her decision, Frimpong cited a “mountain of evidence” suggesting that immigration agents were indeed violating constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. The ruling follows weeks of heightened anxiety in Latino communities across Southern California, where increased immigration enforcement has targeted car washes, Home Depot parking lots, swap meets, and businesses. The raids sparked widespread protests and led to the deployment of the National Guard and Marines. One of the counties included in the ruling, Ventura, saw immigration agents raid a cannabis farm and detain dozens just as the court hearing was underway, leading to clashes and injuries. The ACLU, which helped bring the case, argued that agents are working under an arbitrary arrest quota and are relying on racial and ethnic stereotypes. The suit described how agents detained the three plaintiffs, who were Latino day laborers in construction gear, without any other identifying information. Witnesses also described agents targeting people who “looked Hispanic” at public locations. ACLU attorney Mohammad Tajsar cited the case of Brian Gavidia, a U.S. citizen who was allegedly assaulted and detained solely because he was Latino and working in a predominantly Hispanic area. Tajsar questioned why, during one car wash raid, only white workers were spared if race wasn’t a factor. Government lawyer Sean Skedzielewski countered that race was not used to make arrests. He said agents consider many factors — including past surveillance — and sometimes use detailed, individualized files. He added that Homeland Security has policies to ensure agents follow the Fourth Amendment. Order Ensures Legal Access and Limits Racial Profiling The judge also ruled that the downtown LA facility, known as “B-18,” must allow attorney visits seven days a week and ensure detainees have access to private phone calls with lawyers. Lawyers had previously reported being blocked from the facility. One attorney described an incident in which they tried to shout legal advice to detainees from a bus, but government drivers honked horns to drown them out and deployed tear gas-like chemicals. Skedzielewski said access was limited during violent protests for safety reasons but has since been restored. However, attorney Mark Rosenbaum said access was also denied on calm days, and detainees were not told they could speak to a lawyer. He also noted that poor conditions at the facility pressured detainees to agree to deportation without legal consultation. The judge’s order prevents authorities from using race, language, location, or job type as grounds for suspicion during immigration enforcement. Attorneys general from 18 Democratic-led states supported the court's ruling. A separate federal injunction in April already barred warrantless immigration arrests in parts of eastern California.

A recent Iranian missile strike on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, a major U.S. military hub, struck a geodesic dome used by American forces for secure communications, according to satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell later confirmed that the dome was hit by an Iranian ballistic missile. However, Qatari officials have not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident. The June 23 missile strike was Iran’s retaliation for a U.S. attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran, and it ultimately led to a ceasefire that ended a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. The response allowed Iran to save face while avoiding a broader regional escalation. Despite the hit, the overall damage to the base was limited. The U.S. had relocated aircraft from Al Udeid in anticipation of the strike, which houses the U.S. Central Command’s forward headquarters. Officials said Iran had provided advance notice of the attack, giving American and Qatari defenses time to prepare. The strike caused temporary disruptions to regional air traffic but did not trigger wider conflict. Satellite Evidence Confirms Dome Destruction Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC shows the dome — part of a $15 million communications system known as a modernized enterprise terminal — was still intact on the morning of the strike. It housed a satellite dish protected by a radome. By June 25, images revealed the dome had been destroyed, with visible burn marks and minor damage to an adjacent structure. The rest of the base appeared undisturbed. Pentagon spokesperson Parnell stated that the damage to base infrastructure and equipment was minimal, and that Al Udeid remains “fully operational” in cooperation with Qatar to maintain regional security. The destruction was first reported by Iran International, a London-based satellite news channel using separate satellite imagery. Contrasting Narratives from U.S. and Iran Former U.S. President Donald Trump described Iran’s retaliation as “very weak,” noting that 14 missiles were fired — 13 intercepted and one veering off in a “nonthreatening” direction. He thanked Iran for providing early warning, which ensured no casualties. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon commented further after Parnell’s confirmation. Trump had visited Al Udeid on May 15 during a Middle East trip. In contrast, Iranian authorities claimed a significant victory. The Revolutionary Guard called it a “destructive and powerful” missile strike, while the Supreme National Security Council claimed the base was “smashed.” An adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei alleged the attack cut off communications from the base, saying, “All equipment was completely destroyed,” and that U.S. command links from Al Udeid to other military sites had been severed.

A preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India crash has revealed that the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before the aircraft went down, cutting off fuel and leading to engine failure. According to the report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, this change in switch position — which occurred shortly after takeoff — caused the engines to lose thrust. The report also suggested that the pilots were confused by the switch change. Death toll in India plane crash rises to 270 as more bodies recovered The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on June 12 in Ahmedabad, killing at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s history. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers — including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian — along with 12 crew members. Investigators reported that the flight lasted only about 30 seconds. After reaching its peak recorded speed, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were flipped from “run” to “cutoff” within a second of each other. The report does not clarify how or why this occurred mid-flight. These switches control the flow of fuel to the engines, and moving them to the “cutoff” position effectively starves the engines of fuel. Although they were returned to the “run” position, the engines could not recover power in time to prevent the crash. A distress call of “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” was recorded from one of the pilots, the report stated. Cockpit voice recordings also captured a moment of confusion, with one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut off — to which the other pilot replied that he had not done it. The report, still in its preliminary stage, does not suggest any corrective actions for Boeing. Air India has stated it is cooperating fully with investigators. “We are working with all relevant authorities and will continue to support the ongoing investigation,” the airline said in a statement. Black boxes, which include cockpit voice and flight data recordings, were recovered shortly after the crash and analyzed in India. In response to the incident, Indian aviation authorities have mandated additional inspections of Air India’s fleet of 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to ensure safety going forward.

The US State Department has begun dismissing more than 1,300 employees as part of a sweeping reorganization under the Trump administration’s plan to downsize the federal government. According to CNN said the layoffs include 1,107 civil service and 246 foreign service officers. Employees are being notified via email, with many placed on administrative leave—foreign service staff for 120 days and most civil servants for 60 days—before termination. “Nearly 3,000 members of the workforce will depart as part of the reorganization,” the notice said, including both involuntary and voluntary departures. “In connection with the Departmental reorganization first announced by the Secretary of State on April 22, 2025, the Department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice read. It said reductions target “non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices,” and those where “considerable efficiencies” can be gained through consolidation.   Trump plans to hike tariffs on Canadian goods to 35% Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently returning from Malaysia, said the overhaul was being carried out “probably in the most deliberate way of anyone that’s done one.” A senior official said the changes are “personnel agnostic,” focusing on functions no longer aligned with department goals. While overseas posts remain unaffected, many in Washington, DC, will be impacted. Thomas Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, called the timing troubling. “There are horrible things that are happening in the world that require a tried-and-true diplomatic workforce,” he said, pointing to crises in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. Yazdgerdi warned the cuts could damage morale, recruitment, and retention. “We’re like the military,” he said. “If you’re going to RIF an office, we’re not tied to that office.”

President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States is selling weapons to NATO allies, who are then supplying them to Ukraine as it faces intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Trump told NBC on Thursday. “The weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons (to Ukraine), and NATO is paying for those weapons." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Kuala Lumpur on Friday, explained that deploying existing U.S.-made weapons from NATO allies in Europe is faster than sending them directly from U.S. factories. “It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine,” he said. Ukraine urgently needs more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine is seeking 10 additional Patriot systems. Germany has pledged two, and Norway one. Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine Meanwhile, Russia launched a drone attack on Kharkiv early Friday, injuring nine and damaging a maternity hospital. Another drone strike in Odesa also injured nine. “There is no silence in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. In response, Kyiv is launching the “Clear Sky” project—an interceptor drone system with a $6.2 million investment to counter Russian Shahed drones. Zelenskyy said his recent talks with Trump have been “very constructive,” as Ukraine pushes its allies to speed up promised military support.

President Donald Trump is set to visit flood-ravaged areas of Texas on Friday, even as questions grow over his administration’s pledge to shutter the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The trip comes after catastrophic flooding left at least 120 people dead and over 170 missing. Despite earlier promises to shift disaster response to states, Trump has focused on the tragedy’s human toll. “It's a horrible thing,” he said Friday. Speaking to NBC News, he described it as “a once-in-every-200-year deal.” Trump approved Texas’ request to expand the federal disaster declaration to eight additional counties, enabling direct financial assistance. He will tour the damage by air and meet with first responders and victims’ families, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, Governor Greg Abbott, and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Trump administration sanctions UN investigator probing Gaza abuses Trump has used past disaster tours to attack political opponents but has stayed silent this time on FEMA’s future. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that is a policy discussion that will continue.” OMB Director Russell Vought also avoided clarifying FEMA’s fate but said the agency has “billions” in reserves. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noted, “We’re cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA. Streamlining it, much like your vision.” Local officials in Texas face criticism over preparedness, but some residents, like Darrin Potter of Kerr County, urged understanding, saying evacuation could have been more dangerous.