United News of Bangladesh

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday that she intends to pursue sanctions and a partial suspension of trade with Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza — a significant shift in stance for the EU leader, who has long supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The European Union, made up of 27 member states, remains divided over its position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. It is still uncertain whether von der Leyen will secure enough support to pass the proposed measures. She also revealed that the Commission will establish a Palestine donor coordination group next month, which will focus in part on the reconstruction of Gaza. Von der Leyen said the devastation in Gaza, especially the suffering of children and families, had deeply affected global public opinion. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 126 Palestinians — including 26 children — have died due to hunger-related causes since a famine was declared in Gaza City by international experts on August 22. “Famine must never be used as a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity — this must end,” von der Leyen said, receiving applause during a European Parliament session in Strasbourg. Israeli Foreign Minister Reacts In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized von der Leyen on social media, accusing her of giving in to political pressure that, he claimed, undermines Israel’s relationship with Europe and strengthens Hamas. Evacuation Orders in Gaza City Von der Leyen’s remarks came after the Israeli military issued a mass evacuation order on Tuesday for Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain despite severe shortages of food and other essentials. Israel says it plans to retake what it describes as Hamas’ final stronghold. Roughly 1 million Palestinians — about half of Gaza's total population — live in the northern region around Gaza City, according to estimates by both Israeli officials and the United Nations. Many residents have been displaced multiple times and remain uncertain about the safety of moving again. The call for full evacuation preceded an Israeli airstrike that targeted Hamas leadership in Qatar, where ceasefire talks have stalled. The strike, conducted on the territory of a U.S. ally, drew international condemnation and heightened regional tensions, further jeopardizing efforts to end the conflict and secure the release of remaining hostages. Hamas has claimed that its top leadership survived the strike. EU to Freeze Support to Israel Von der Leyen also announced plans to freeze EU bilateral support to Israel provided by the Commission, a decision that does not require approval from EU member states. It was not immediately clear how much financial aid the Commission currently provides to Israel or what the funding supports. “We will suspend our bilateral assistance to Israel,” she told lawmakers, adding that payments will be halted in these areas but that support for Israeli civil society and institutions like Yad Vashem will continue. The European Commission also provides funding to the Palestinian Authority. Conflict Nearing Two-Year Mark The war in Gaza erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed approximately 1,200 — mostly civilians — in southern Israel. According to Israeli authorities, 48 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, with around 20 believed to still be alive. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which has since killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. While the ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, it reports that about half of the casualties were women and children. The United Nations and other international organizations generally view these figures as the most credible available. The conflict has devastated much of Gaza’s infrastructure, with major cities reduced to rubble. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced.  

The Nepalese army was deployed to the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday in a bid to restore order after days of escalating unrest, during which tens of thousands of demonstrators torched government buildings and targeted political figures. Armed troops patrolled major areas of the capital, enforcing a stay-at-home order and curfew while inspecting vehicles and questioning pedestrians. Their presence marked a shift toward stability after days of turmoil. The military, which is rarely called upon in such situations, had initially remained in its barracks while police struggled to contain the protests. In a statement issued late Tuesday, the army reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order and reported the arrest of 27 suspected looters. On Wednesday, soldiers fired warning shots as inmates at Kathmandu’s central prison overpowered guards, set fire to buildings, and attempted a mass escape. The military successfully prevented the breakout and relocated the prisoners. No injuries were reported. Violence peaked Tuesday as protesters set fire to government facilities and the homes of political leaders, prompting the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. His resignation did little to ease public anger, and large crowds continued to block roads and overrun government premises. Military helicopters evacuated several ministers to safety. The protests also caused security forces to abandon posts in various cities, allowing hundreds of prisoners to flee from detention centers. Protests Sparked by Social Media Ban Escalate The unrest began Monday with demonstrations led by youth outraged over the government's sudden ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. Police responded with live fire, killing 19 people, which further inflamed public anger. Although the ban was lifted on Tuesday, protests continued, fueled by allegations of political corruption and the fatal police response. President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, urged demonstrators to resolve the crisis peacefully and confirmed acceptance of Oli's resignation. Oli has been asked to head a caretaker administration, although his current location remains unclear. Dubbed the "Gen Z protests," the movement initially began over digital censorship but quickly broadened to include grievances over political privilege and economic disparity. Youth unemployment in Nepal remains high, with World Bank data from last year estimating it at around 20%. The government believes more than 2,000 young people leave the country daily to find work abroad, primarily in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Politicians and Institutions Under Attack Footage circulating on social media showed protesters assaulting former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. Both sustained injuries, with videos showing bystanders helping them to safety. The Nepali Congress, Nepal's largest political party, is part of the ruling coalition. By Wednesday, smoke still rose from key government buildings, including the parliament, the presidential residence, the prime minister's official residence, and the central secretariat. The headquarters of Kantipur Publications, the country’s leading media house, was also torched. Several car showrooms were burned, and damaged vehicles lined the streets. In addition to the 19 confirmed deaths, many others were injured. Prime Minister Oli has ordered an investigation into the use of lethal force and promised compensation to the victims’ families. Controversial Social Media Law at the Heart of Protests The violence comes amid the government's push for new legislation aimed at regulating social media platforms. Officials argue the law would ensure platforms are accountable and properly managed. However, critics, including rights groups, claim the bill would stifle free speech and silence dissent. Under the proposed law, social media companies must register locally and appoint a point of contact within Nepal. Around two dozen platforms were ordered to comply, and those that failed were blocked. As of now, platforms like TikTok, Viber, and a few others that completed registration remain accessible.

A Russian glide bomb struck a village in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday as residents queued to collect their monthly pensions, killing at least 24 people and injuring 19 others, Ukrainian officials said. The attack hit Yarova village in Donetsk region around 11 a.m., less than 10 kilometers from the front line. Regional head Vadym Filashkin said 23 of those killed were elderly pensioners. “It was beyond words,” said resident Hennadii Trush, who lost his wife in the blast as she waited to collect her bedridden mother’s pension. He fled the village with his elderly mother after the attack. “Before, strikes landed on the outskirts. This time it was right in the center of the village,” he told the Associated Press, weeping with soot still on his face. The strike destroyed homes and set the village ablaze. “The whole village is on fire,” said Pavlo Diachenko, head of communications for the regional police, who rushed to the scene. “Private houses were burning, and people tried to put out the flames with their own hands.” The explosion tore through a mobile post office vehicle where pensions were being distributed, according to Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s postal service. The local post office had shut down a week earlier after staff evacuated. “Apparently, someone gave away the coordinates,” said Ukrposhta head Ihor Smilianskyi, noting that the car had been parked under trees to avoid detection. At the morgue, victims showed severe blast wounds and burns. “They were all lying in one heap,” said Zinaida Hrymailo, who came to identify her 75-year-old cousin. She said her cousin had been preparing to leave Yarova after collecting her pension but died before she could flee. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “frankly brutal,” urging the world to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. “The world should not remain silent,” he wrote on Telegram. “The United States needs a reaction. Europe needs a reaction. Strong action is needed so that Russia stops bringing death.” The UN says more than 12,000 civilians have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The latest strike came two days after Russia launched its largest aerial barrage of Kyiv since the war began. Poland on alert The assault also raised tensions in neighboring Poland, whose military said it went on the highest state of air defense alert overnight Tuesday. “To ensure the security of Polish airspace, the operational commander of the Polish armed forces has activated all necessary procedures,” the Operational Command said. Polish and allied aircraft, along with radar systems, were fully deployed in what officials called “preventative” actions to secure areas adjacent to Ukraine. European Council President Antonio Costa denounced the attack, asking: “Is this what Russia means when it talks about peace? When will President Putin accept to start peace talks already accepted by President Zelenskyy?” Meanwhile, US and European officials held talks in Washington on new sanctions and tariffs targeting Russian oil revenues, as fears mount that Ukraine’s air defenses are being depleted faster than they can be replaced. Glide bombs — retrofitted Soviet-era weapons that can weigh up to 3,000 pounds — have devastated eastern Ukraine in recent months.  

Poland said Wednesday it shot down drones that violated its airspace during Russia’s latest large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, forcing the temporary closure of four airports and putting its armed forces on the highest state of alert. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces claimed in a statement, “During today’s attack by the Russian Federation targeting Ukraine, our airspace was repeatedly violated by drones.” “At the request of the operational commander, weapons have been used, and operations are under way to locate the downed targets”, the military said. Polish and NATO aircraft were scrambled, while ground-based air defence and radar systems were moved to maximum readiness. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that “an operation is under way related to multiple violations of Polish airspace.” Earlier, flights were suspended at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, Rzeszow–Jasionka Airport, Modlin Airport, and Lublin Airport, according to notices on the US Federal Aviation Administration’s website. The Polish military did not directly mention the closures. Ukraine’s Air Force initially reported that Russian drones had crossed into Polish territory, posing a threat to the southeastern city of Zamosc. But  the statement was later removed later. Overnight, much of Ukraine — including western border regions Volyn and Lviv — was under extended air raid alerts. Border with Belarus to close amid Russian-led drillsSeparately, Poland said it will close its border with Belarus from midnight Thursday due to Russian-Belarusian military exercises known as “Zapad-2025,” scheduled to begin Friday in western Russia and Belarus. The drills have raised alarm in NATO countries bordering Belarus — Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the border would reopen only when the government is sure “there is no more threat to Polish citizens.” Belarus summoned Poland’s chargé d’affaires to protest the move, calling it “an abuse of geographical position” that “caused significant difficulties.” Its Foreign Ministry said the suspension reflected “an intention to conceal one’s own actions rather than any real threat from Belarus.” Lithuania also announced it would tighten border security with both Belarus and Russia during the drills.

US President Donald Trump has said he is “not thrilled” about Israel’s air strike in Qatar, which killed five Hamas members and triggered widespread condemnation from across the world. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended this attack as “fully justified,” targeted senior Hamas leaders accused of masterminding the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Hamas confirmed the deaths of five members, including the son of top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, but said Israel failed to assassinate its political bureau members. The group denounced the strike in Doha as a “heinous crime” and a “flagrant violation of international law.” Qatar, a key US ally hosting an American air base and the Hamas political bureau since 2012, strongly condemned the assault as “cowardly” and a grave breach of its sovereignty. The interior ministry said one security officer was killed and others injured. Witnesses in Doha reported up to eight explosions in the Katara district. Trump told reporters: “I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not a good situation. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.” The White House later said the president had assured Qatar’s emir and prime minister that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.” According to US officials, Trump had instructed envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatari authorities of the impending strike. The White House stressed that bombing inside a sovereign ally “does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” though it described eliminating Hamas as a “worthy” objective. Israel said the operation was carried out independently, involving 15 fighter jets that launched 10 munitions within seconds. Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the decision followed recent deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza. Reactions poured in from around the world. The UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strike as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable regardless of motive.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of further escalation, and Saudi Arabia denounced the “brutal aggression.” Pope Leo XIV said the situation was “very serious,” while families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza expressed deep anxiety that the strike could endanger their loved ones. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid demanded the government clarify whether hostages’ safety had been considered. Hamas said its delegation had been discussing the latest US ceasefire proposal in Doha when the compound was hit. The plan reportedly includes a 60-day truce, the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and talks on a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu later told a gathering at the US embassy in Jerusalem that the strike could “open the door to an end of the war.” He urged Gazans to “stand up for your rights and your future” and accept peace. Israel has previously killed several top Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July 2024 and Yahya Sinwar in Gaza three months later. The Gaza war erupted after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage on 7 October 2023. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed at least 64,605 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Tuesday said he was appalled by the escalating violence in Nepal that has resulted in multiple deaths and the injury of hundreds of mostly young protesters, as well as the widespread destruction of property. “I plead with security forces to exercise utmost restraint, and avoid further such bloodshed and harm,” he said, adding that violence is not the answer. “Dialogue is the best and only way to address the concerns of the Nepalese people. It is important that the voices of young people are heard.” The High Commissioner said protesters have the right to express peacefully their political frustrations and grievances over corruption and a ban on social media platforms. “I have received concerning reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the security forces,” said Türk. “I call for urgent, thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into such acts.” Ex-Nepal PM’s wife dies after protestets set their home on fire He reminded protesters that they too must uphold the spirit of peaceful assembly and refrain from violence. “I am disturbed by reports of public buildings, businesses and private residences being attacked and, in some instances, set ablaze. Equally, I am concerned by reports of physical attacks on senior government officials.” The world has admired Nepal’s emergence from conflict to become a peaceful democracy, Türk said, appealing to all Nepalese stakeholders to find a way forward to continue on that path. “Together with the United Nations system, my Office stands ready to support dialogue and trust-building measures that can help de-escalate tensions and restore confidence,” the High Commissioner said.

Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Nepalese Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, was tragically killed when protesters, led by Generation Z activists, trapped her inside their house in the Dallu area of Kathmandu and set it ablaze. She was taken to Kirtipur Burn Hospital but succumbed to her injuries, according to family sources. This incident happened amid widespread protests in Kathmandu against a brief government ban on social media platforms. The unrest, fueled by anger over political corruption and nepotism, escalated as demonstrators targeted homes of top leaders, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, whose residence was also set on fire. Following violent clashes, including police firing on crowds that resulted in 19 deaths, Prime Minister Oli resigned. Videos surfaced showing his finance minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, being violently attacked in the streets. The protests began after the government blocked Facebook, X, and YouTube, citing failure by these platforms to comply with registration and regulatory demands. Many young protesters are particularly frustrated by the privileged lifestyles of politicians' children, known as “Nepo Kids,” while many youth face unemployment and hardship.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chief Rabi Lamichhane was freed from Nakkhu Prison on Tuesday after Gen Z protesters stormed the facility during nationwide demonstrations against Nepal’s recent social media ban. According to local media outlet Khabarhub, Lamichhane was released as part of a wider push by protesters, who later facilitated the escape of around 1,500 other inmates after police abandoned their posts. His wife, Nikita Paudel, arrived at the prison to receive him as thousands of supporters gathered outside to greet the popular leader. Lamichhane, who had been detained in connection with a cooperative savings case, addressed crowds in a video shared by RSP central member Krantishikha Dhital. Dressed in white, he waved to his supporters while security forces withdrew, raising concerns over the collapse of order in Kathmandu. The development came hours before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced his resignation amid intensifying anti-government protests. The movement, led largely by students, unemployed youth, and professionals, erupted after the government banned social media platforms—a move Oli reversed only after security forces killed 19 people and injured more than 300 on Monday. Earlier in the day, at least 21 RSP lawmakers resigned en masse, deepening the country’s political turmoil. Analysts say the resignations are a calculated move to disrupt Parliament and accelerate demands for a reset of Nepal’s political system. Lamichhane, seen by many as an uncorrupted and decisive alternative to Nepal’s scandal-hit leadership, has quickly become the face of this rising political tide. His background as a media personality and his ability to harness online frustration have allowed him to convert digital dissent into street power. Chanting slogans such as “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (KP thief, leave the country) and “Take Action Against Corrupt Leaders,” demonstrators across Kathmandu signaled their rejection of Nepal’s traditional political elite. With Oli gone, uncertainty looms over whether protests will settle—or escalate further—as demands now extend to the dissolution of the entire government.

Israel has carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital Doha A Hamas official says its negotiating team was targeted in the attack, reports BBC. Qatar's foreign ministry says the attack is a "blatant violation" of international law, adding it "will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behaviour and the continuous tampering with the security of the region" The IDF says it "conducted a precise strike" and those targeted "are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre" The Hamas negotiating team is based in Doha; they have not been involved in any indirect negotiations with Israel since July.

Protesters in Kathmandu ignored a curfew, broke into the parliament building, and set parts of it on fire. They had earlier attacked the office of the Nepali Congress, the country’s biggest political party, and the homes of several prominent politicians. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday as anti-corruption protests intensified. His resignation came a day after security forces killed 19 people during violent demonstrations triggered by a social media ban. Excited young protesters rushed into the parliament complex after hearing the news, waving and shouting slogans while smoke rose from the building. Oli’s government had lifted the social media ban on Monday after police used live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets against demonstrators trying to storm parliament, which left more than 100 people injured. Protesters painted messages of victory on the parliament walls and flashed “V” signs, celebrating Oli’s resignation. Witnesses said there were no clashes afterward, as security forces did not intervene. The unrest is the worst Nepal has seen in years, even more violent than a 2006 uprising that ended the king’s executive powers and killed 18 people. In 2008, parliament formally abolished the monarchy. Many Nepalis are frustrated with the republic, citing ongoing political instability. In March, two people died during a rally by supporters of the former king demanding the monarchy’s return. Although Oli has stepped down, it is unclear if protests will end, as many demonstrators are calling for the entire government to be dissolved—a move that could further destabilize Nepal, which has seen 13 governments since 2008.   Source: ALJazeera