United News of Bangladesh

As extreme weather events grow more frequent and intense across the United States, experts warn that government preparedness and public awareness are failing to keep pace, putting lives and infrastructure increasingly at risk. Climate scientists and disaster researchers say climate change is turning rare events into regular occurrences, yet many Americans still underestimate the threat. The consequences have been devastating — as seen in this month’s deadly flash floods in central Texas that killed over 100 people, despite the region’s long history of floods. Michael Oppenheimer, a climate scientist at Princeton University, explained how the nature of weather extremes is evolving. “What happens with climate change is that what used to be extreme becomes average, typical, and what used to never occur in a human lifetime or maybe even in a thousand years becomes the new extreme,” he said. “We start to experience things that just basically never happened before.” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 10-year summer average of its Climate Extreme Index — which tracks hurricanes, droughts, rainfall, and temperature extremes — is now 58% higher than it was in the 1980s. Despite the growing threat, experts argue that both public and institutional responses remain alarmingly inadequate. “There’s plenty of evidence that we sit there and do absolutely nothing while these risks are coming right at us like a moving railroad train and we’re standing in the tracks. And then all of a sudden, bam,” Oppenheimer said. Part of the problem lies in how people perceive disaster risk. Many base their decisions on past experiences, assuming similar outcomes. “That is flash flood alley. We know that floods happen in that region all the time... I’ve already seen normalcy bias statements by people in the regions saying, well, we get flooding all the time,” said Marshall Shepherd, a meteorology professor at the University of Georgia. Experts warn that outdated thinking is leaving people vulnerable, especially as disasters become more severe in previously unaffected regions. “The message needs to be, if you’re used to some degree of nuisance flooding, every so often, look at what happened in Texas and realize that this is a shifting baseline,” said Kim Klockow McClain, a social scientist who studies extreme weather communication. Flash floods kill over 80 in Texas; dozens still missing Psychological denial is another factor. People often believe disasters won’t happen to them — until they do. “It’s sort of a psychological mechanism to protect us that it can’t happen to me,” said Susan Cutter, co-director of the Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute at the University of South Carolina. “Just because I’ve lived through a fire or a flood or a hurricane or a tornado, that does not mean that the next time is going to look like the last time,” added Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado. As climate threats intensify, aging infrastructure and population growth in vulnerable areas compound the risks. Peek warned that the U.S. is unprepared for the scale of future disasters. “As our population has continued to rise, it’s not only that we have more people in the country, it’s also that we have more people living in particularly hazardous areas like our coastal areas,” she said. Experts also criticized recent government decisions, including staff cuts to key federal agencies under the Trump administration, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Weather Service, NOAA, and the U.S. Geological Survey. These agencies play crucial roles in disaster response and climate research. “We’re destroying the capability we have that we’re going to need more and more in the future,” Oppenheimer warned. Looking ahead, Peek urged a shift in strategy: “This is our future. It’s obvious that we’re living into a future where there are going to be more fires and floods and heat waves.”

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday said that China is ready to further enhance collaboration with the United Nations to jointly promote a more just and equitable international order. The Premier made the remarks during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over the 80 years since its founding, the United Nations has made vital contributions to safeguarding world peace and tranquility while promoting common development, Li said. Cautioning that the world is facing mounting unstable and uncertain factors, Li said that the UN needs to play a better role. China stays committed to multilateralism and win-win cooperation: Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the three major global initiatives, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, are highly consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, as they embody China's steadfast commitment and pragmatic approach to support multilateralism and the work of the UN, stressed Li. The more complex the international situation becomes, the more necessary it is to uphold the authority of the UN, said Li, stating that China firmly supports the UN's central role in global governance and stands ready to work with all parties to practice true multilateralism and to better advance the UN's work. As the global security faces grave challenges, China has made extensive efforts to promote dialogue for the political settlement of hotspot issues, and will continue to support the UN in playing its unique role in de-escalating tensions, the premier said. China opposes trade deals that undermine its interests, says Commerce Ministry He mentioned that all parties should prioritize development on the international agenda, work together to enhance global development cooperation, allocate resources first and foremost to key areas such as poverty alleviation, education, employment and capacity building, and revitalize the global development partnership. As a responsible major developing country, China will continue to uphold opening-up, share its opportunities globally, and promote shared development, said Li. He also emphasized China's support for the United Nations as the primary platform to address gaps in global governance in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, polar regions, and outer space. China, EU aim to deepen cooperation on global issues

The State Department is warning US diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates. The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a US senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post. The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press. “The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently investigating the matter,” it said. “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.” It declined to comment further due to “security reasons” and the ongoing investigation. It’s the latest instance of a high-level Trump administration figure targeted by an impersonator, with a similar incident revealed in May involving President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles. The misuse of AI to deceive people is likely to grow as the technology improves and becomes more widely available, and the FBI warned this past spring about “malicious actors” impersonating senior U.S. government officials in a text and voice messaging campaign. The hoaxes involving Rubio had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated,” one of the officials said. Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. “There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable said. Trump pushes for trade deals before Wednesday, hints at more time The FBI has warned in a public service announcement about a “malicious” campaign relying on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior US official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts. This is not the first time that Rubio has been impersonated in a deepfake. This spring, someone created a bogus video of him saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service. Ukraine’s government later rebutted the false claim. Several potential solutions have been put forward in recent years to the growing misuse of AI for deception, including criminal penalties and improved media literacy. Concerns about deepfakes have also led to a flood of new apps and AI systems designed to spot phonies that could easily fool a human. The tech companies working on these systems are now in competition against those who would use AI to deceive, according to Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. He said he’s seen an increase in the number of deepfakes portraying celebrities, politicians and business leaders as the technology improves. Just a few years ago, fakes contained easy-to-spot flaws — inhuman voices or mistakes like extra fingers — but now the AI is so good, it’s much harder for a human to spot, giving deepfake makers an advantage. “The level of realism and quality is increasing,” Lyu said. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.” The Rubio hoax comes after text messages and phone calls went to elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May. Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by AI, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said. The government was investigating.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for the Taliban’s supreme leader and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court on charges of persecuting women and girls since seizing power nearly four years ago. The warrants also accuse the leaders of persecuting “other persons non-conforming with the Taliban’s policy on gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women.’” The warrants were issued against Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhunzada and the head of the Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The court said in a statement that the Taliban have “severely deprived, through decrees and edicts, girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion. In addition, other persons were targeted because certain expressions of sexuality and/or gender identity were regarded as inconsistent with the Taliban’s policy on gender.” Russia becomes first state to recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government The court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, sought the warrants in January, saying that they recognized that “Afghan women and girls as well as the LGBTQI+ community are facing an unprecedented, unconscionable and ongoing persecution by the Taliban.” Global advocacy group Human Rights Watch welcomed the decision. “Senior Taliban leaders are now wanted men for their alleged persecution of women, girls, and gender non-conforming people. The international community should fully back the ICC in its critical work in Afghanistan and globally, including through concerted efforts to enforce the court’s warrants," Liz Evenson, the group's international justice director, said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump has been nominated again for the Nobel Peace Prize. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump on Monday that he recommended him for the prestigious award, handing the American leader the letter he said he sent the Nobel committee. Trump has been nominated several times by people within the US as well as politicians abroad — but that's only one small step in the secretive process. Trump's previous nominations Trump's nominators have included a group of US House Republicans and two Norwegian lawmakers. The groups separately nominated him in 2018 for his work to ease nuclear tensions with North Korea. One of the Norwegians nominated him again for the 2021 prize for his efforts in the Middle East, as did a Swedish lawmaker. Not all of the nominations have been valid: The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which selects the prize winners, said in 2018 that someone using a stolen identity had nominated Trump at least twice. Nominations can be made by a select group of people and organizations, including heads of state or politicians serving at a national level, university professors, directors of foreign policy institutes, past Nobel Prize recipients and members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee itself. Secret process Once all nominations have come in, the committee — made up of five members appointed by the Norwegian parliament — sifts through them and ensures they were made by an eligible nominator. A person cannot nominate themselves, according to the committee. The nominations aren’t announced by the committee, and the Nobel statutes prohibit the judges from discussing their deliberations for 50 years. But those doing the nominating may choose to make their recommendations public. Trump nominated for Nobel Peace Prize over Israel-Iran ceasefire Nominations must be submitted before Feb. 1 each year — meaning any recent Netanyahu nomination would be for the 2026 prize. The winners are announced every October, with award ceremonies taking place on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death. The prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, a wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite. An economics prize was later established by Sweden's central bank and is presented at the same time. How to win the peace prize According to Nobel’s wishes, the peace prize should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” The peace prize committee is the only one that regularly rewards achievements made in the previous year — and the prize is the only one awarded in Oslo, Norway. For the science-related prizes, scientists often have to wait decades to have their work recognized by the Nobel judges, who want to make sure that any breakthrough stands the test of time, in Stockholm. Former US President Barack Obama won the peace prize in 2009, barely nine months into his first term. It was met with fierce criticism in the US, where many argued Obama had not been in office long enough to have an impact worthy of the Nobel. Former US President Jimmy Carter won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for work he did after leaving the White House.

Five Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack in the northern Gaza Strip, Israel's military said Tuesday, while health officials in the Palestinian territory said 51 people were killed in Israeli strikes. The bloodshed came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting the White House for talks with US President Donald Trump about a ceasefire plan to pause the Gaza fighting. While there was no announcement of a breakthrough, there were signs of progress toward a deal. According to AP, the soldiers' deaths could add to pressure on Netanyahu to strike a deal, as polls in Israel have shown widespread support for ending the 21-month war. A senior Israeli official said 80-90% of the details had been ironed out and a final agreement could be days away. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to discuss the sensitive negotiations with the media. Soldiers attacked with explosive devices The soldiers were killed roughly two weeks after Israel reported one of its deadliest days in months in Gaza, when seven soldiers were killed after a Palestinian attached a bomb to their armoured vehicle. An Israeli security official said explosive devices were detonated against the five soldiers during an operation in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza, an area where Israel has repeatedly fought regrouping militants. Houthi rebels attack Red Sea ship after claiming to sink another The military said 14 soldiers were wounded in the attack, two of them seriously. It brings the toll of soldiers killed to 888 since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack. Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing, said on social media that the attack was an “additional blow” against what he described as a “weak” army. In a statement, Netanyahu sent condolences, saying the soldiers fell “in a campaign to defeat Hamas and to free all of our hostages.” On the other hand, health officials at Nasser Hospital, where victims of the Israeli strikes were taken, said one strike targeted tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing four people. A separate strike in Khan Younis killed four people, including a mother, father and their two children, officials said. Nasser Hospital records showed a total of 41 people killed on Tuesday. In central Gaza, Israeli strikes killed another 10 people and wounded 72, according to Awda Hospital in Nuseirat. Israel's military had no immediate comment on the strikes, but it blames Hamas for any harm to civilians because the militants operate in populated areas.

Monsoon-swollen floodwaters swept away the main bridge linking Nepal with China on Tuesday, leaving 18 people missing and halting a key trade route, according to Nepali authorities. The Bhotekoshi River, swollen by heavy rainfall, destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadi, located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Kathmandu. The flood also swept away several houses and trucks that had been parked at the border for customs inspections. Among the damaged property were hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China. Rescue operations were underway, with a Nepali Army helicopter evacuating people stranded by the sudden flooding. Police said that 95 rescuers had already reached the site and additional teams were being mobilized. Monsoon rains and flash floods kill at least 72 in Pakistan According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the 18 missing people include 12 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals. The Chinese nationals, along with eight of the Nepalis, were working on a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of the border, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal said, as reported by state media. The destruction of the Friendship Bridge has effectively stopped all trade via this route. With the Rasuwagadi checkpoint out of operation, the only viable alternative involves transporting goods from China to India and then overland into Nepal — a longer and more complex process. Nepal’s monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, often brings devastating floods that damage infrastructure and threaten lives, particularly in mountainous and border regions.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Tuesday in Ulaanbaatar, underscoring a shared interest in deepening ties between the two democracies in a region long shaped by Russian and Chinese influence. The meeting followed a formal welcoming ceremony in the Mongolian capital on the second day of Naruhito’s weeklong visit — a significant gesture that marks Japan’s growing engagement with the landlocked nation of 3.5 million. Tokyo has prioritized boosting trade with Mongolia, which exports much of its rich resources of coal, copper, and other minerals to China. Later in the day, Emperor Naruhito is scheduled to lay flowers at a cenotaph honoring the thousands of Japanese prisoners of war who were held under harsh conditions in Mongolia during and after World War II. The visit coincides with the 80th anniversary of the war’s end. Historians note that one of the earliest clashes of the global conflict occurred in the summer of 1939 along the Mongolian frontier, where Soviet forces repelled an incursion by Japanese troops in a decisive defeat for Japan. Japan to provide $4.8mn to strengthen Bangladesh's election systems In recent years, Naruhito has made a point of visiting sites associated with some of the most devastating battles and bombings of World War II, including Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Hiroshima. These journeys, he has said, are part of an effort to reflect on the tragedies of war fought in the name of his grandfather, Emperor Hirohito. While the majority of Japanese prisoners of war were sent to Siberia, between 12,000 and 14,000 were detained in Mongolia, which had joined the Soviet Union in its war against Japan by the end of World War II. Following the war, Mongolia remained a tightly controlled Soviet ally, effectively functioning as a militarized buffer state aimed at China. Most of the population continued their traditional nomadic herding lifestyle during this period. Since the collapse of Communist rule in 1989, Mongolia has established a resilient democracy and worked to balance political and economic pressure from neighboring powers with strategic partnerships, including strong ties with the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a prolonged attack on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea on Tuesday, following their claim of sinking another vessel earlier this week — a series of incidents that threaten to escalate tensions and reignite conflict in the strategically vital waterway. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center, the Greek-owned bulk carrier Eternity C remained “surrounded by small craft and is under continuous attack.” At least two people aboard the ship were reported injured, and two others were missing as of Tuesday. The ship, which was heading north toward the Suez Canal, came under assault late Monday by men in small boats and bomb-laden drones. Security personnel on board returned fire in defense, according to reports from the European Union’s anti-piracy mission Operation Atalanta and private maritime security firm Ambrey. Though the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility for this latest incident, Yemen’s exiled government and EU officials have squarely blamed the Iran-backed rebel group for the attack. Just two days earlier, the Houthis targeted another Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, Magic Seas, using drones, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms fire. The 22-member crew was forced to abandon the vessel, which the rebels later said had sunk in the Red Sea. The back-to-back attacks, combined with Israeli airstrikes targeting Houthi positions early Monday, have raised concerns about the potential for a renewed Houthi campaign against commercial shipping. Israel launches airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis; rebels retaliate with missile fire Such a campaign could again prompt a military response from U.S. and Western forces, as seen during the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which launched airstrikes against the group. These developments unfold at a critical juncture in the region. A possible ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict remains uncertain, and Iran is reportedly weighing its options about returning to nuclear negotiations following U.S. strikes on its key nuclear sites during the brief Israel-Iran conflict in June. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have continued to justify their maritime attacks as a means to pressure Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza. From November 2023 to January 2025, the group targeted over 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones, sinking two and killing four sailors.  Their actions have significantly disrupted trade along the Red Sea corridor, a route that typically facilitates $1 trillion in annual global commerce. Although Red Sea shipping had begun to recover in recent weeks, the recent Houthi attacks could threaten that progress. The rebels had paused maritime assaults since the U.S. launched a major campaign against them in mid-March, but their latest attacks mark a potential return to hostilities. However, they had continued sporadic missile launches targeting Israel during that period

French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in the United Kingdom for a three-day state visit marked by royal ceremony and high-stakes political discussions focused on curbing cross-Channel migration and supporting Ukraine. Macron’s visit comes at the invitation of King Charles III and represents the first state visit by a European Union head of state to the UK since Brexit, symbolizing Britain’s efforts to rebuild ties with the EU following its 2020 departure from the bloc. The French President and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were received at a Royal Air Force base by Prince William and Princess Catherine. They then traveled to Windsor Castle in a horse-drawn carriage, passing through streets decorated with Union Jacks and French tricolor flags. Upon arrival at Windsor, the Macrons were welcomed with a military honor guard and will attend a state banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. This visit follows a reciprocal state visit by the British royals to France in September 2023. While the monarch is expected to avoid direct political commentary, King Charles will use his address at the banquet to make a broader call for international unity, stating that the UK and France “face a multitude of complex threats” that “know no borders,” adding that “no fortress can protect us against them.” During his stay, President Macron will also address both houses of the British Parliament in the historic Royal Gallery before holding bilateral talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Discussions will focus on migration, defense cooperation, and investment. Focus on migration: "New tactics to stop boats" A major item on the agenda is tackling illegal migration across the English Channel. At a UK-France summit scheduled for Thursday, senior officials from both governments will discuss joint efforts to reduce the number of small boats carrying migrants from northern France to the UK. Though the UK receives fewer asylum seekers compared to southern European nations, it remains a popular destination for migrants. Thousands use northern France as a launching point, especially after increased security measures targeted truck stowaways. In 2024, around 37,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats, making it the second-highest annual total after 2022. Over 20,000 crossings have already been recorded in the first half of 2025 — a nearly 50% increase over the same period last year. The journey remains perilous, with dozens losing their lives attempting it. Ukraine pursues joint weapons production with allies as US pauses some arms shipments Prime Minister Starmer, whose centre-left government came to power a year ago, has vowed to “smash the gangs” behind the human smuggling networks. His strategy emphasizes closer cooperation with France and countries along migrant routes in Africa and the Middle East. The UK is also pursuing bilateral agreements with individual countries to repatriate failed asylum seekers. British officials have urged French police to take more aggressive action to prevent crossings. Recent footage of French officers slashing rubber dinghies was welcomed by the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented that the French are “bringing in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water.” The UK is also pushing France to allow its officers to intervene in deeper waters, a proposal currently under consideration in Paris. However, some migrant rights advocates and a police union have warned that such moves could pose risks to both migrants and law enforcement personnel. Tom Wells, spokesperson for Starmer, acknowledged the complexity of the discussions, stating, “Some of the tactics being discussed are operationally and legally complex, but we’re working closely with the French.” Keeping Ukraine on the agenda Macron and Starmer are also coordinating closely on Ukraine. Both leaders have championed efforts to establish an international peacekeeping force to help enforce a future ceasefire, should one be reached. The proposed force would involve European troops, military equipment, and U.S. security guarantees. However, the plan has met resistance from Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump showing limited enthusiasm for the idea. Russia, meanwhile, has continued its military aggression in Ukraine, making a ceasefire uncertain. Despite these hurdles, British officials maintain that the initiative — referred to as a “coalition of the willing” — remains viable. Macron and Starmer are expected to participate in an international videoconference on Thursday to continue planning efforts. Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday and discussed the “significant progress being made by military planners,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.