United News of Bangladesh

North Korea carried out its first ballistic missile launches in five months on Wednesday, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit South Korea. South Korea’s military reported that multiple short-range ballistic missiles were fired from south of Pyongyang, traveling roughly 350 kilometers (220 miles) toward the northeast. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not provide further details but confirmed that the missiles did not land in the sea. The military emphasized that it remains prepared to respond to any provocations from the North, relying on its strong alliance with the United States. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tokyo is closely coordinating with Washington and Seoul, sharing real-time missile warning data. North Korea has not commented on the launches. Trump is scheduled to begin his Asia trip later this week, visiting Malaysia for a regional summit, followed by Japan, and then South Korea for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. He was expected to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Gyeongju ahead of the summit, though he is unlikely to attend APEC’s main conference from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. Pakistan conducts ballistic missile test amid soaring tensions with India Experts say North Korea may conduct missile tests to assert its status as a nuclear-armed state, a designation that would strengthen its case for U.N. sanctions relief. Wednesday’s launches were Pyongyang’s first since May 8 and the first under South Korean President Lee’s administration. Earlier this month, Kim Jong Un displayed the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade, highlighting North Korea’s growing nuclear capabilities and diplomatic ambitions. Source: AP 

Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian olive harvesters and activists this week in the occupied West Bank, beating them with clubs in an incident that left at least one woman hospitalized with serious injuries, Palestinian health officials said. The attack occurred Sunday in the town of Turmus Ayya and was captured in videos obtained by The Associated Press. Palestinians say such violence by settlers has been increasing, particularly during the olive harvest season, putting farmers at heightened risk. The United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly warned of the rising threats. “Settler violence has skyrocketed in scale and frequency,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territory, in a statement Tuesday. “Two weeks into the 2025 harvest, we have already seen severe attacks by armed settlers against Palestinian men, women, children and foreign solidarity activists.” In one video, a masked man, apparently wearing tzitzit, a Jewish ritual fringed garment, was seen running through an olive grove and striking at least two people, including a woman lying motionless on the ground. The woman was later hospitalized with serious injuries, the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry said. Other footage showed more than a dozen masked men chasing a car along a village road, with one settler striking the vehicle and opening its door, while a passenger managed to escape. A separate video captured flames and smoke rising from several torched cars. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the head of the West Bank police force described the footage of the masked settler attacking the woman as “keeping him up at night” and instructed officers to bring the assailant to justice. Israel’s military and police did not respond to AP’s requests for comment. Turmus Ayya, predominantly Palestinian-American, has long been a target of settler violence, which villagers say has intensified during the Israel-Hamas war. The town lies in a valley surrounded by Israeli settlements and outposts. Tensions escalated after the killing of 14-year-old Palestinian-American Amer Rabee by Israeli forces in April, triggering repeated clashes between residents and settlers. Settler attacks across the West Bank are rising. The U.N. reports that the first half of 2025 saw 757 incidents causing injuries or property damage, a 13% increase compared with the same period last year. During the first week of the olive harvest, over 150 attacks were recorded, and more than 700 olive trees were uprooted, broken, or poisoned, according to Muayyad Shaaban, who heads a Palestinian Authority office monitoring the violence. Israel captured the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek these territories for a future independent state, while settler advocates occupy key Israeli Cabinet positions, giving them significant influence over the West Bank.   Source: AP

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ highest judicial body, is set to issue an advisory opinion Wednesday on Israel’s legal obligations to ensure urgently needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The ICJ was asked last year by the U.N. General Assembly to provide guidance after Israel effectively barred the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) – the main aid provider in Gaza – from operating in the territory. While advisory opinions are legally nonbinding, experts say they carry significant weight and could influence U.N. operations worldwide. The request predates the fragile U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10. The truce aims to end two years of conflict in the enclave, allowing 600 humanitarian aid trucks to enter daily. Israel has partly complied, and Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya confirmed the deliveries to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News. During ICJ hearings in April, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of “starving, killing and displacing Palestinians” while blocking humanitarian organizations from operating. Israel denied violating international law, boycotted the hearings, but submitted a 38-page written statement for consideration. Israel’s ban on UNRWA, in place since January, came amid criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who claim the agency is infiltrated by Hamas – a charge UNRWA denies. In March, Israel halted all aid for three months, triggering severe food shortages, before allowing partial deliveries through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed private group. International experts declared a famine in parts of Gaza in August. Israel, however, maintained there was sufficient food and accused Hamas of stockpiling supplies. The GHF has since suspended operations following the recent ceasefire. Advisory opinions, while nonbinding, are considered “decisive” under treaties governing the protection of U.N. personnel. The General Assembly’s request, submitted in December 2024, sought clarification on Israel’s responsibilities “to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population.” Experts emphasize the significance of the ruling. Mike Becker, a human rights law scholar at Trinity College Dublin, said, “We cannot let states pick and choose where the U.N. is going to do its work. This advisory opinion is a very important opportunity to reinforce that.” The ICJ has previously issued advisory opinions on Israeli policies, including ruling the West Bank separation barrier illegal two decades ago. Last year, the court declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful and called for an immediate halt to settlement construction, a ruling Israel criticized for ignoring its security concerns. Separately, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, alleging they used “starvation as a method of warfare” and intentionally targeted civilians – charges Israeli officials strongly deny. Another case by South Africa accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, which Israel rejects as politically motivated. The current Gaza war was triggered by a Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and left 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, figures widely regarded as reliable by U.N. agencies and independent observers, though Israel disputes them.   Source: AP

Peru’s new president on Tuesday declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital as part of the government’s efforts to curb a surge in violence that has fueled protests and contributed to the removal of his predecessor. Peru has seen a rise in killings, violent extortion, and attacks on public spaces in recent years. Police reported 1,690 homicides between January and September this year, up from 1,502 during the same period in 2024. Former President Dina Boluarte was ousted by Congress on Oct. 10 following an impeachment process in which lawmakers cited her inability to tackle the escalating crime wave. She was immediately succeeded by José Jerí, then head of the legislative body. In a televised address, Jerí said the emergency in Lima would last for 30 days and indicated that the government is considering measures such as deploying the military to assist police and restricting certain rights, including freedom of assembly and movement. “Wars are won with actions, not words,” he said, outlining a new approach to crime prevention he described as shifting “from defense to offense.” The announcement comes amid ongoing protests against violence and corruption, led largely by Gen Z activists. Demonstrators took to the streets of Lima on Thursday demanding Jerí’s resignation, with clashes leaving one civilian dead and around 100 people injured, including police officers and journalists. Jerí maintained he would not step down. Boluarte had also declared a 30-day state of emergency in March, but it had little impact on reducing crime.   Source: AP

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday described the fragile ceasefire in Gaza as progressing “better than expected,” while acknowledging significant challenges ahead, including disarming Hamas and rebuilding a region devastated by two years of conflict. During his visit to Israel, Vance noted recent flare-ups of violence but said the truce between Israel and Hamas, which began on Oct. 10, is holding better than anticipated. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff added that efforts are exceeding initial expectations. Vance and Witkoff toured a new center in Israel aimed at civilian and military coordination, amid ongoing questions about Gaza’s long-term governance and the potential deployment of an international security force. Vance emphasized that his visit—his first as vice president—was not an emergency measure to preserve the ceasefire. He expressed confidence in lasting peace but warned that Hamas would face “obliteration” if it failed to cooperate. Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and one of the architects of the truce, highlighted the transition from two years of intense conflict to a peacetime posture, describing the process as complex. Vance, who will remain in the region until Thursday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, also commented on the release of hostages. Late Tuesday, Israel returned the remains of two more Gaza hostages, bringing the total recovered since Oct. 10 to 15. Thirteen more remain in Gaza. He urged patience, noting that some hostages remain buried under rubble or their whereabouts are unknown. Under the ceasefire terms, Israel is releasing 15 Palestinian bodies in exchange for each deceased hostage. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Israel has transferred 165 bodies so far this month. Vance stressed the importance of security and rebuilding before discussing Gaza’s long-term governance. “Once both Gazans and our Israeli friends have some measure of security, then we’ll focus on governance,” he said, urging flexibility and acknowledging the difficulty of the work ahead. Although around 200 U.S. troops have been sent to Israel, Vance clarified that none would deploy to Gaza. Officials are conceptualizing an international security force for the territory, with Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, Germany, Britain, and Denmark expected to participate. Britain has committed a small contingent of officers to monitor the ceasefire. Aid into Gaza is increasing, but prices for essential goods have surged. The World Food Program reported sending over 530 trucks in the past ten days, feeding nearly half a million people for two weeks. Hamas has cracked down on price gouging, closing shops and ensuring safe passage for aid trucks. Despite this, Gaza’s financial system remains in disarray, with banks and ATMs largely inoperable, forcing residents to rely on cash brokers for daily expenses. Meanwhile, Gaza health officials said some bodies returned by Israel bore signs of torture, including rope and metal bindings, deep wounds, and crushed limbs, and called for a U.N. investigation. The Israel Prisons Service denied mistreatment of detainees. Israeli hostages freed from Gaza have also reported harsh treatment, including shackling, beatings, and starvation. The Israel-Hamas war, sparked by the 2023 Hamas attack, has killed over 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and Israel disputes these figures. Around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the initial attack, with 251 abducted as hostages.   Source: AP

U.S. markets showed little movement early Tuesday as investors awaited a wave of corporate earnings reports. Futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq were largely unchanged before the opening bell. General Motors surged over 9% after lowering its full-year tariff impact estimate and raising its adjusted earnings forecast. Coca-Cola shares rose 3.1% following stronger-than-expected sales and profit, aided by a 6% price increase during the quarter. Netflix and Mattel are scheduled to report after the market closes Tuesday, while Tesla reports Wednesday. Analysts note that corporate profits are under scrutiny following a 35% rally in the S&P 500 since April, with investors watching for signs of sustainable earnings growth amid concerns over elevated stock valuations. Earnings reports are also gaining attention as key U.S. economic data has been delayed by the government shutdown, complicating the Federal Reserve’s assessment of inflation and the job market. The Commerce Department will release consumer price data Friday, marking the first government report since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Global markets were mostly higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.3% as Sanae Takaichi became the country’s first female prime minister. Germany’s DAX gained 0.2%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.5%, and Britain’s FTSE 100 advanced 0.3%. Asian markets also saw gains, including Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (+0.7%) and Shanghai Composite (+1.4%). U.S. crude rose 32 cents to $57.54 per barrel, while Brent crude increased 30 cents to $61.31. The euro slipped to $1.1619 from $1.1641.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on Tuesday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine and rejected any proposal for Kyiv to surrender territory captured by Russia, including ideas suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a joint statement, eight European leaders and senior EU officials announced plans to use Moscow’s frozen assets abroad to support Ukraine, despite concerns over legality and potential consequences. The statement also reaffirmed that international borders should not be changed by force. Zelenskyy criticized Russia for returning to diplomacy only under pressure and said ongoing pressure is necessary to achieve peace. Trump, preparing to meet Putin in Budapest, has shifted his position several times—previously suggesting Ukraine might need to concede land, then calling for a freeze on current front lines, and most recently proposing dividing the Donbas region. European and Ukrainian leaders are working to keep Trump aligned with their position, emphasizing that halting the fighting on the current front lines should serve as the starting point for negotiations. They warned that freezing the conflict could allow Russia to launch future attacks. Additional sanctions on Russia are expected to be discussed at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, while the Coalition of the Willing, a group of 35 countries supporting Ukraine, will meet in London on Friday.

A Slovak court on Tuesday convicted Juraj Cintula for the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fico last year, sentencing him to 21 years in prison for a terror attack. The 72-year-old opened fire on Fico on May 15, 2024, in Handlová, northeast of Bratislava, as the prime minister greeted supporters. Two surgeries were required after Fico was shot in the abdomen, but he has since recovered. Cintula, who had no prior criminal record, claimed his motive was disagreement with government policies, including ending military aid to Ukraine and changes in the anti-corruption office. He maintained he had no intention to kill anyone. The three-judge panel said the attack targeted the prime minister specifically, aimed to incite opposition, and justified the terror charge. Cintula’s age and clean record influenced the decision to avoid life imprisonment. His lawyer indicated an appeal is likely. Fico, who returned to power in 2023 with a pro-Russia platform, was not present at the trial and has expressed forgiveness toward Cintula, taking no legal action against him. The attack and trial have stirred political tensions in Slovakia, with critics accusing Fico of steering the country closer to Russia.

Hong Kong reopened the runway Tuesday where a cargo plane crashed into the sea the previous day, though officials said it will remain out of regular use until the wreckage is fully cleared. The Boeing 747, operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines on a flight from Dubai, veered off the runway in the early hours of Monday and collided with a patrol car, sending both into the sea. Two workers in the car were killed, while the four crew members aboard the plane were unharmed. Airport authorities said repairs to the runway and fencing are complete, and initial evidence has been collected. However, the cockpit voice and flight data recorders have not yet been recovered. The runway is now on standby, allowing limited landings but not regular flight operations. Cleanup efforts have been delayed by Tropical Storm Fengshen, with authorities aiming to remove the wreckage within a week, weather permitting. Investigators continue to examine the cause of the crash, with weather and runway conditions reportedly meeting standards. Transport Secretary Mable Chan said an initial investigation report is expected within a month. Monday’s crash was ACT Airlines’ second fatal incident, following a 2017 crash in Kyrgyzstan that killed 39 people.

Polish and Romanian authorities have arrested Ukrainian citizens allegedly working for Russian intelligence in a sabotage campaign, prosecutors said Tuesday. Polish prosecutors stated that the suspects planned to send shipments containing explosives and incendiary materials to Ukraine, designed to ignite or explode during transit. The aim, they said, was to intimidate populations and destabilize EU countries supporting Ukraine. In Romania, two Ukrainians, aged 21 and 24, allegedly acting for Russian intelligence, deposited parcels with improvised explosive devices at a Bucharest courier. Romanian intelligence specialists defused the devices, and the suspects were placed under 30-day preventative arrest. The Ukrainian detained in Poland was among eight people recently arrested over sabotage preparations, according to the National Prosecutor's Office. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister coordinating special services, confirmed that the plot involved reconnaissance of military and critical infrastructure, preparation of sabotage materials, and potential attacks. Authorities across Europe have detained dozens for suspected sabotage and espionage linked to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Recent cases include arson plots, attacks on cargo planes, store fires, cyberattacks, and spying networks in multiple countries.