United News of Bangladesh

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar appears to have failed, escalating tensions with Qatar and straining ties with the U.S. The strike, aimed at exiled Hamas officials meeting over a U.S. ceasefire proposal, killed five low-level Hamas members and a Qatari security guard, but Hamas claims its senior leaders survived. The attack has drawn sharp criticism across the Arab world, disrupted ongoing ceasefire negotiations, and threatened the safety of 20 hostages still believed alive in Gaza. While Netanyahu faces international backlash, he remains resolute, backed by his hard-line coalition, and has vowed further action if Hamas leadership continues to operate from Qatar. Experts say the failed strike undercuts Netanyahu’s vision of “total victory” over Hamas, complicates efforts to secure a ceasefire, and risks alienating Israeli citizens seeking an end to the war. Despite this, Netanyahu’s political position remains secure, with his coalition’s support outweighing public opposition. Israel continues its offensive in Gaza City, urging evacuation of around one million residents ahead of a planned invasion. The Trump administration has expressed unhappiness over the strike but has not indicated steps to pressure Israel to halt the war.

  Two separate boat accidents in northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this week have left at least 193 people dead and dozens more missing, authorities and state media said Friday. The tragedies occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, about 150 kilometers apart in Equateur province. On Thursday evening, a whaleboat carrying nearly 500 passengers caught fire and capsized along the Congo River in Lukolela territory, killing 107 people, according to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. At least 209 survivors were rescued near the village of Malange, while a memo from the Ministry of Social Affairs said 146 others were still missing. A day earlier, another motorized boat capsized in Basankusu territory, claiming the lives of at least 86 people, most of them students, state media reported. Several others remain unaccounted for, though no official figure was given. The cause of the accidents was not immediately clear. State media, citing reports from the scene, blamed Wednesday’s disaster on “improper loading and night navigation.” Photos from the area showed villagers mourning beside recovered bodies. A local civil society group accused the government of negligence and claimed the toll was even higher. Search operations were launched after the accidents, with naval personnel and community volunteers combing the riverbanks. Authorities pledged medical treatment for the injured, assistance to bereaved families, and the repatriation of survivors. River transport remains a lifeline in the DRC’s vast rainforest regions, where wooden vessels serve as the primary mode of travel between remote villages. The boats are often poorly maintained, overloaded with passengers and goods, and travel without life jackets, making accidents frequent and deadly. Night navigation adds further risk, often complicating rescue efforts and leaving many victims unaccounted for. Limited resources and the remoteness of accident sites also hamper search and recovery operations. Source: AL Zazeera    

On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, urging Israel to recognize a future Palestinian state — a move staunchly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 193-member body passed a nonbinding resolution backing the “New York Declaration,” which outlines a gradual plan to resolve the decades-long conflict. The vote was 142 in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions. Just hours before the vote, Netanyahu declared that a Palestinian state would never be established, speaking during the signing of an agreement to expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank — territory Palestinians claim for their future state. “This place belongs to us,” Netanyahu said. The resolution was introduced by France and Saudi Arabia, who led a high-level conference in July to promote the two-state solution, where the declaration was originally endorsed. The ongoing war in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict are expected to be key issues at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly session, beginning September 22. The Palestinian delegation hopes more countries — at least 10 — will formally recognize Palestine, adding to over 145 that already have. Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour described the vote as a sign of global support for peace. Without directly naming Israel, he criticized those “still pushing for war and destruction,” urging them to listen to reason and the international call for a peaceful solution. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon rejected the resolution, calling it “theater” that benefits Hamas and undermines the Assembly’s credibility. The United States, a close ally of Israel, also criticized the resolution. U.S. representative Morgan Ortagus labeled it “misguided” and “ill-timed,” calling it a propaganda gift for Hamas that undercuts genuine diplomatic efforts. The New York Declaration notably condemns Hamas for its October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel — a rare instance of Arab states publicly denouncing the militant group. The assault killed around 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 hostages, with roughly 20 still believed alive. The declaration also denounces Israeli military actions in Gaza, citing the severe humanitarian crisis caused by airstrikes, blockades, and shortages of food and supplies. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed, though the numbers do not separate civilians from militants. The document calls for the Palestinian Authority to take control of all Palestinian territories, including Gaza, through a transitional committee once a ceasefire is in place. It also demands that Hamas relinquish control of Gaza and disarm. Additionally, the declaration supports a temporary U.N.-backed international mission to help protect civilians, oversee the ceasefire, assist the Palestinian Authority with security, and monitor future peace agreements. Finally, the declaration urges global recognition of the Palestinian state, describing it as vital for realizing the two-state solution. Without directly naming Israel, it warns that “illegal unilateral actions” are threatening the viability of a Palestinian state.

Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday named former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the country’s interim prime minister, marking the first time a woman has led the nation’s government. The appointment followed widespread unrest that led to the downfall of the previous administration. Acting on Karki’s recommendation, the president also dissolved the parliament and scheduled new elections for March 5, according to an official statement released late Friday. Nepal last held parliamentary elections in 2022. Karki, 73, earned public admiration during her tenure as Nepal’s only female chief justice in 2016–2017, particularly for her anti-corruption efforts. Though she faced an attempted impeachment in 2017 on allegations of bias, the effort was widely condemned and ultimately failed. Mass protests erupted in Kathmandu on Monday after the government briefly banned social media platforms. The demonstrations quickly escalated into violence, with protesters attacking public buildings and police forces responding with gunfire. Despite the government reversing the ban, the unrest persisted, fueled by broader dissatisfaction with political elites. Protesters set fire to the parliament building, the presidential residence, and various businesses. The turmoil led to the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli on Tuesday. The military took control of the capital that night, and talks began between the army, protesters, and the president to form an interim government. Police reported on Friday that the week’s violence had claimed at least 51 lives, including protesters killed by police and inmates who died while attempting a prison break. Three police officers were also among the fatalities. A military-enforced curfew has been in place since Tuesday evening, allowing residents only limited hours to access essentials while soldiers patrol the streets. The protests, known as the “Gen Z uprising,” initially responded to the temporary ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, and YouTube—blocked for failing to comply with government oversight. However, the movement quickly expanded, with young demonstrators expressing frustration over political nepotism and youth unemployment, contrasting their struggles with the privilege enjoyed by the children of political leaders.

US President Donald Trump admitted on Friday that his decision to impose a 50% tariff on India for buying Russian oil created a rift between the two nations. "India was Russia's biggest customer, and I put a 50% tariff on India because of their oil purchases. That wasn't an easy decision," Trump said during a Fox News interview. The tariffs sparked outrage in India, fueling anti-US sentiment. The move was part of the US's efforts to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine by penalizing nations buying oil from Moscow under Western sanctions. "That's a big deal. And it causes a rift with India," Trump added during the Fox & Friends program. US-India relations have been tense since Trump’s trade war, particularly after trade talks collapsed over India's reluctance to open its agricultural and dairy sectors. Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeds $190 billion annually. Trump first imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports and later doubled it to 50% starting August 27. This was in response to India’s increasing oil purchases from Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump indicated that negotiations with India on trade barriers are ongoing and he plans to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a potential reset after recent tensions. Sergio Gor, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to India, expressed hope for progress during India's commerce minister's visit to Washington next week. Gor downplayed the tariffs as a "little hiccup," adding that the US holds its allies to higher standards. He emphasized that aligning India with the US is a priority. Trump also addressed his waning patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that while he previously had a good relationship with Putin, he was frustrated by the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine. Trump hinted that further sanctions and tariffs, including on banks and oil, were options but stressed that European nations must also participate.   Source: NDTV

Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday appointed former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, making her the first woman to lead the Himalayan nation, following violent protests that toppled the previous government. Karki, who earned popularity as Nepal’s only female chief justice during 2016–17, was scheduled to be sworn in later in the day, presidential spokesman Kiran Pokhrel announced. The appointment comes after a week of unrest sparked by a social media ban that quickly escalated into deadly clashes. Tens of thousands of protesters stormed and set fire to parliament, the presidential residence and private businesses, while also assaulting politicians. Police opened fire, and at least 51 people were killed. The crisis forced the resignation of the prime minister earlier this week. The army took control of Kathmandu on Tuesday night and began talks with protest leaders, political representatives and the presidency on forming an interim government.

President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that the suspect in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk has been apprehended with "high certainty." Federal and state authorities had earlier released images and a video of the suspected shooter. Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and ally of Trump, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem. The attack occurred in broad daylight, with disturbing footage showing Kirk being struck by a bullet during a public address on social issues. Over 7,000 tips have been received as part of the investigation, but authorities have not yet identified the suspect or provided a motive. The FBI's Robert Bohls confirmed it was a "targeted event." The shooter fired from a rooftop and then blended into the crowd, disappearing after the attack. Trump, along with other political leaders, condemned the violence and announced plans to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. Kirk’s funeral will be attended by Trump, and his body was flown to Phoenix for services, where his organization, Turning Point USA, is based. Kirk, known for his divisive views, was taking questions on gun violence moments before the shooting. His appearance sparked protests on campus, with some students barricading themselves in classrooms for safety. The shooting continues to draw bipartisan outrage, reflecting ongoing concerns about political violence in the U.S.  

Britain’s Prince Harry has made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to express solidarity with wounded service members amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion. Harry’s representatives confirmed his arrival in Kyiv on Friday but withheld details of his schedule citing security concerns. It marks his second trip to Ukraine since 2022, following an earlier visit to Lviv in April. “We cannot stop the war but what we can do is do everything we can to help the recovery process,” Harry told the Guardian while traveling by train to the capital. A veteran of the British Army who served in Afghanistan, Harry is the founder of the Invictus Games — a Paralympic-style competition for injured veterans worldwide. Ukraine is currently bidding to host the games in 2029. Earlier this week, the Archewell Foundation — established by Harry and his wife Meghan — announced a $500,000 donation to projects supporting injured children in Gaza and Ukraine. The funds will go to the World Health Organization for medical evacuations and to develop prosthetics for severely wounded youth. According to the Guardian, Harry will meet Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, spend time with around 200 veterans, and visit the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. His trip coincides with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper’s visit to Kyiv, where she unveiled new U.K. sanctions targeting Russia’s oil revenues and military supplies. Harry’s appearance in Ukraine follows a four-day stay in the U.K., where he met his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months — a move seen as a step toward mending strained royal ties. The visit comes less than a week after Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the 2022 invasion.

The swelling wave of public anger first swept through the island nation of Sri Lanka in 2022 and ousted the president. Two years later, it erupted in Bangladesh as protesters toppled the ruling government. On Monday public fury exploded in Nepal, forcing its prime minister to resign a day after. Each protest movement began with a specific grievance that flared up, ending in the rejection of the government or its leaders. In many ways, the protest movements share a common feature: disillusioned peoples’ resentment against the ruling elite and an entrenched political system they hold responsible for rampant corruption, deepening inequality and economic disparities. Often led by young people, the protests have sparked deadly violence and sometimes left behind a political vacuum filled by unelected leaders and a worsening law and order situation. “A perception of ruling elites as being both corrupt and ineffective at delivering a plausible path forward has created a structural basis for major crises,” said Paul Staniland, a politics professor specializing in South Asia at the University of Chicago. Nepal's public fury is largely against the political elite The youth-led protests in Nepal began on Monday as simmering discontent over years was ignited by the government’s ban on major social media platforms. Many were particularly angry that the children of political leaders seem to enjoy a lavish lifestyle, while most of the population was dealing with economic problems, rising unemployment and widespread corruption. The unrest has left at least 19 people dead. Protesters — who have not clearly spelled out their demands apart from rallying under the anti-corruption call — burned the parliament building, presidential house, and residences of several ministers and other politicians. Bending to mounting public pressure, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli reversed the social media ban and quit. However, he will still lead a caretaker government until a new one is in place. It is unclear what the new government would look like and whether it will constitute the old political guard. Many Nepalis fear a familiar sequence of bargaining among the same political class they want to overthrow. Nepal is fraught with frequent political instability and each prime minister’s tenure has lasted just a year or two since the new constitution came into effect in 2015. The country abolished its monarchy in 2006, after a violent uprising that forced its former king to give up his authoritarian rule. Staniland said the violence could make it “much harder to determine who should be in charge or how they should proceed.” “The big question now in Nepal will be whether order can be restored and new, stable political dispensation forged,” he said. Before Nepal there was Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Those in Nepal looking for answers about its future will not find solace in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The lack of consensus on basic reform demands like elections and anti-corruption mechanisms, and an uncertain road map for the future, have dented the democratic progress in those countries and further exacerbated the problems they face. In Bangladesh, student-led protests started with anger against rules that limited the number of civil service jobs based on merit. They morphed into a massive nationwide uprising in July last year that culminated in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hundreds of people, mostly students, were killed in violent protests. Hasina fled to India, and an unelected interim administration, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was installed. He promised to restore order and hold a new election after necessary reforms. One year on, Bangladesh remains mired in instability. Politic parties are bickering over election dates. Mob violence, political attacks on rival parties and groups, and hostility to vulnerable minority groups by religious hard-liners have surged. In Sri Lanka, the then-Prime minister Ranil Wickremensignhe took over the country after protesters forced the powerful Rajapaksa clan out in 2022. The country later had a democratic transition of power after Marxist lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected as president last year. He promised to improve standards of living, clean up government and hold corrupt politicians responsible for their actions. Almost a year later, Sri Lanka's problems seem far from over. Its people continue to deal with issues like economic hardships, human rights concerns and foreign-debt default. “There is no sign of the ideals of change desired by the protesters,” said Veeragathy Thanabalasingham, a Colombo-based political expert. Wider instability in the region Recent popular revolts have also rocked other nations in the region. In Indonesia, deadly protests last week over lawmakers’ perks and the cost of living forced the country’s president to replace key economic and security ministers. The protests have led to the death of at least seven people. In Myanmar, imprisoned former leader Aung San Suu Kyi ’s democratically-elected government was ousted by the military in 2021. Resistance to the military government has grown, and the country is now in the midst of a brutal civil war. Staniland said while “most protests come and go without such dramatic results” as those seen in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, “the kindling is there for miscalculations and unexpected events to spiral.” “I think Nepal represents the new politics of instability in South Asia," he said.