United News of Bangladesh

A wave of Russian drone attacks struck central Kharkiv on Friday, injuring nine people and damaging a maternity hospital, according to Ukrainian officials. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said mothers and their newborns were being relocated to another facility. He did not confirm whether anyone in the hospital was among the injured. The assault comes amid a surge in Russia’s use of long-range Shahed drones, often combined with missiles and powerful glide bombs, prompting renewed calls to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses as the war drags on into its third year. “There is no silence in Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response to the attack, noting that Kyiv and several other regions have faced an uptick in drone strikes in recent weeks. The U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine reported that June saw the highest number of civilian casualties in the past three years—232 people killed and 1,343 injured. Russia reportedly launched 10 times more drones and missiles last month compared to June 2024. Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine Meanwhile, fierce fighting continues along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line, where thousands of troops on both sides have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Zelenskyy urged Western allies to follow through on military support commitments made during a summit in Rome on Thursday. He specifically appealed for more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems and interceptor drones to defend against the growing Shahed drone threat. According to reports, Russia aims to ramp up drone production to 1,000 units per day. Zelenskyy described recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump as “very constructive,” though U.S. policy on further military aid remains unclear. He also signaled a possible diplomatic reshuffle, indicating that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov may replace Oksana Markarova as Ukraine's ambassador to Washington. Ukraine has requested 10 additional Patriot systems. Zelenskyy noted that Germany has agreed to purchase two and Norway one, all of which are expected to be transferred to Ukraine. Speaking to NBC, Trump said the U.S. is supplying weapons to NATO allies, who are in turn providing them to Ukraine. However, he did not confirm whether Patriot systems were part of the deal. Trump added that he would make “a major statement” on Russia next Monday, though he offered no details. Zelenskyy continues to call for tougher sanctions on Moscow. In the U.S., a bipartisan sanctions bill is gaining momentum in the Senate. Spearheaded by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the proposal would impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue buying Russian energy exports, such as China and India. In response to repeated aerial attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities announced the launch of a new initiative called “Clear Sky,” aimed at boosting drone defense capabilities. The project, with a budget of 260 million hryvnias (around $6.2 million), includes investments in interceptor drones, mobile response units, and operator training. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for international support to scale up production of these domestically developed interceptor drones. “Our scientists and engineers have found a solution,” he said. “Now we need financing. Then we will intercept.”

President Donald Trump has announced plans to raise tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports to 35%, intensifying a growing rift between the two long-time North American allies. In a letter sent Thursday to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said the new tariffs—set to take effect on August 1—would replace the existing 25% duties that were imposed in March. The move is part of Trump’s ongoing pressure campaign on Canada, which he accuses of not doing enough to prevent fentanyl trafficking into the United States, despite data showing that Canada is not a major source of the drug. Trump also reiterated concerns over the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, which is largely driven by American oil imports. “The flow of fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we face with Canada, which maintains many tariff and non-tariff barriers,” Trump wrote in the letter. The announcement rattled global markets, with stock futures falling early Friday. Although recent gains in the S&P 500 had reflected investor optimism that Trump might scale back the tariff hike, the letter appears to have renewed economic uncertainty. Responding to the move, Prime Minister Carney said Canada remains committed to negotiating a fair trade deal with the U.S. and highlighted his government's efforts to combat fentanyl. “Through the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,” he posted on social media. Trump administration sanctions UN investigator probing Gaza abuses Carney, who became prime minister in April, campaigned on a promise to adopt a tougher stance in defending Canadian interests. He has since sought to diversify Canada’s trade ties, strengthening partnerships with the European Union and the United Kingdom. Just hours before Trump’s letter was released, Carney shared a photo with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on social media, writing, “In the face of global trade challenges, the world is turning to reliable economic partners like Canada”—a veiled criticism of the U.S.'s unpredictable trade policies under Trump. While several countries have received similar tariff notices from the U.S. in recent days, Canada—America’s second-largest trading partner after Mexico—has become a focal point of Trump’s trade crackdown. Canada has responded with retaliatory tariffs and rejected Trump's past remarks suggesting it should become the 51st U.S. state. When Carney went to the White House in May, the public portion of their meeting was cordial. But Trump said there was nothing the Canadian leader could tell him to remove the tariffs, saying, “Just the way it is.” Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said Trump's latest move will make it more difficult for Canada and the U.S. to reach a trade deal, Beland said. “It doesn’t mean a new trade deal between Canada and the United States is impossible, but it shows how hard it is for the Canadian government to negotiate with a U.S. president who regularly utters threats and doesn’t appear to be a reliable and truthful interlocutor,” he said. Trump has sent a series of tariff letters to 23 countries. Those form letters became increasingly personal with Canada as well as a Wednesday note that put a 50% tariff on Brazil for the ongoing trial of its former President Jair Bolsonaro for trying to stay in office after his 2022 election loss. Trump was similarly indicted for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump administration officials have said that Trump was seeking to isolate its geopolitical rival China with the tariffs, but the latest tariffs have undermined that message. Brazil's largest trading partner is China, not the U.S., and Chinese government officials have framed his import taxes as a form of bullying. Trump threatens Brazil with steep tariff, demands end to Bolsonaro trial “Sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs are important principles of the U.N. Charter and basic norms governing international relations," said Mao Ning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. “Tariffs should not be used as a tool for coercion, bullying and interference in the internal affairs of other countries.” The letters reflect the inability of Trump to finalize the dozens of trade frameworks that he claimed would be easy to negotiate. Shortly after unveiling his April 2 “Liberation Day” tariffs, a financial market selloff caused Trump to announce a 90-day negotiating period during which a 10% baseline tariff would be charged on most imported goods. But Trump has indicated that the 10% tariff rates are largely disappearing as he resets the rates with his letters. “We’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it’s 20% or 15%,” Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News. Trump has announced trade frameworks with the U.K. and Vietnam, as well as a separate deal with China to enable continued trade talks. Trump jacked up import taxes on Chinese goods to as much as 145%, but after talks he has said China faces total tariffs of 55%. In June, Trump said he was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue its digital services tax, which would hit U.S. technology companies. A few days later, talks resumed when Carney rescinded the tax. Under the current tariff structure, the 2020 United States Mexico Canada Agreement has protected eligible goods from Trump's tariffs. But a review of the pact is scheduled for 2026.

Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 gunmen in a joint military and police operation following a wave of violent attacks in the country’s northwest, officials said Thursday. The operation was launched on Wednesday in response to coordinated assaults by armed men on several villages the previous evening, according to a statement by Nasir Mua’zu, State Commissioner for Home Affairs. He confirmed that three police officers and two soldiers were killed during the counter-assault. “We are working tirelessly with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens,” Mua’zu said. Violence has surged across northwestern and north-central Nigeria in recent months, with armed gangs—often referred to as “bandits”—carrying out deadly raids and mass abductions for ransom. Hundreds have been killed, and many more injured or displaced as these groups exploit the region's limited security presence. At least 10 Nigerian soldiers are killed in an ambush, the army says The gangs, primarily composed of former herders, frequently clash with settled farming communities. Dozens of such groups now operate with near impunity in the mineral-rich northwest, attacking rural communities and travelers along major routes. In addition to banditry in the northwest, Nigeria is grappling with a long-running insurgency in the northeast. The United Nations estimates that more than 35,000 civilians have been killed and over 2 million displaced due to ongoing conflict in that region. Source: Agency 

The latest round of peace talks between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan ended Thursday in Abu Dhabi without any breakthrough in their decades-long conflict over the South Caucasus region. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met to push forward negotiations on a peace treaty, following Azerbaijan’s full recapture of the disputed Karabakh province last year. While both sides had agreed in principle to the wording of a peace deal in March, Thursday’s meeting yielded no timeline for its finalization. Bangladesh invites Azerbaijani investment, esp in renewable energy Instead, both leaders reiterated their commitment to continue dialogue on key issues, including border demarcation and confidence-building measures. In a joint statement, the two nations said they would stay engaged in bilateral talks despite the lack of immediate progress. Armenia and Azerbaijan have remained in conflict since the early 1990s, when ethnic Armenian forces took control of Karabakh. A six-week war in 2020 saw Azerbaijan reclaim significant territory, and a swift military operation in September 2023 led to Karabakh’s capitulation and further handovers of border villages by Armenia. Over 600 foreigners flee Iran into Azerbaijan Tensions have also escalated within Armenia. Many citizens oppose recent territorial concessions, particularly in the Syunik region, where Azerbaijan seeks a land corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave. Protests erupted last year, prompting the Armenian government to arrest opposition figures, including two senior archbishops accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Despite the challenges, both sides say they remain committed to resolving the conflict through peaceful negotiations. Source: Agency 

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, who is leading an investigation into alleged human rights violations in the Palestinian territories — marking the latest US effort to target critics of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. This move follows a failed US campaign to pressure the United Nations into removing Albanese from her post. The sanctions come during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington for talks with President Trump and other senior officials, primarily focused on the 21-month conflict in Gaza. It remains unclear what tangible impact the sanctions will have or whether Albanese will be able to travel to the United States under diplomatic immunity. 5 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza while strikes kill 51 Palestinians Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Malaysia, confirmed that the US and Russia have exchanged fresh ideas aimed at reviving peace talks on Ukraine. After a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Rubio said the discussions offered a “new and different approach,” although no concrete breakthroughs were disclosed. The Kremlin, for its part, stated that renewed US arms deliveries to Ukraine and President Trump’s stronger rhetoric would not derail potential peace negotiations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s preference for diplomatic solutions but confirmed military operations would continue unless Kyiv agrees to resume direct talks. Source: Agency 

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was once again taken into custody Thursday over charges linked to his short-lived declaration of martial law late last year. The Seoul Central District Court approved the latest arrest warrant against Yoon over fears he could destroy evidence. He was previously held in custody following his initial arrest in January, but was released in March after the same court overturned his detention. Yoon was removed from office in April after the Constitutional Court upheld an impeachment motion submitted by the parliament over his imposition of martial law in December, which threw the nation into a months-long political crisis. The criminal investigation is being handled by a special counsel team led by special prosecutor Cho Eun Suk. The probe was launched after Lee Jae Myung was elected president in June to replace Yoon. Malaysian PM warns Southeast Asia that trade war is not ‘passing storm’ Yoon is already standing trial over allegations that his declaration of martial law amounted to an insurrection, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death if convicted. He has denied the charges. The conservative former president defended himself during a court hearing on Wednesday over whether to issue the latest arrest warrant, which includes charges such as obstruction of official duties and abuse of power. Source: Kyodo News

Dozens of rescuers continued search operations along a mountain river in Nepal on Wednesday after monsoon floods swept away the country’s main border bridge to China, killing at least nine people and leaving 19 others missing. The floods, triggered by heavy rainfall on Tuesday, destroyed the Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi—Nepal’s primary trade link with China—located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Kathmandu. Several homes and trucks parked at the border for customs checks were also washed away. Hundreds of electric vehicles imported from China had been awaiting clearance at the site. Monsoon floods wash away Nepal-China bridge, 18 missing According to the Rasuwa District Administration Office, nine bodies have been recovered so far. Rescue teams have saved 55 people, including four Indian nationals and one Chinese citizen. Among the missing are 13 Nepali citizens and six Chinese nationals, as confirmed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The Chinese Embassy in Nepal stated that the missing Chinese nationals and eight of the Nepalis were working on a China-assisted construction project near the border. In response, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, accompanied by senior ministers and officials, visited the affected area. Oli had earlier convened an emergency meeting, directing all relevant authorities and security forces to intensify rescue and relief efforts. With the Rasuwagadhi route now severed, all cross-border trade through this key point has come to a halt. Goods must now be rerouted through India, creating significant logistical delays. Nepal’s monsoon season, spanning June to September, regularly brings heavy flooding that damages infrastructure and threatens lives across the country.  

More than 500 migrants were brought to the mainland port of Lavrio, near Athens, on Thursday after being intercepted south of Crete, as Greek authorities move to tackle a sharp rise in Mediterranean crossings originating from Libya. The group, mainly composed of young men, had been traveling on a fishing trawler that was stopped by Greek officials. They were transferred overnight to a bulk carrier and later brought ashore with the assistance of service vessels. Kenya's president says 'enough is enough' and vows to end anti-government protests The migrants are now being sent to detention facilities near the capital. Officials ordered the transfer to the mainland as reception centers on Crete have reached full capacity. The island has seen a daily influx of around 500 new arrivals since the weekend. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a three-month suspension of asylum procedures for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. The decision—focused on Crete—comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between the European Union and Libya over migration cooperation. Earlier this week, EU delegates were turned away from eastern Libya due to a disagreement over the format of planned discussions on stemming migrant flows. Authorities on Crete are struggling to cope with the escalating situation, relying on temporary facilities to shelter migrants, most of whom are reportedly from Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco.    

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP/UNB) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart will meet Thursday in Malaysia for what could be a testy conversation as tensions between the countries rise over Moscow’s increasing attacks on Ukraine and questions about whether Russia's leader is serious about a peace deal. Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are to see each other in Kuala Lumpur, where both men are attending the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together all 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners, including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Europeans and the U.S. The meeting is set to take place shortly after the U.S. resumed some shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause — ostensibly for the Pentagon to review domestic munitions stocks — that was cheered in Moscow. The resumption comes as Russia fires escalating air attacks on Ukraine and as President Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Putin is not, he’s not treating human beings right,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, explaining the pause’s reversal. “It’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that.” A US diplomatic push could be overshadowed by tariff threats Rubio will also see other foreign ministers, including many whose countries face tariffs set to be imposed on Aug. 1. That threat could overshadow the top diplomat’s first official trip to Asia, just as the U.S. seeks to boost relations with Indo-Pacific nations to counter China’s growing influence in the region. Trump notified several countries on Monday and Wednesday that they will face higher tariffs if they don’t make trade deals with the U.S. Among them are eight of ASEAN's 10 members. State Department officials said tariffs and trade will not be Rubio’s focus during the meetings, which Trump’s Republican administration hopes will prioritize maritime safety and security in the South China Sea, where China has become increasingly aggressive toward its small neighbors, as well as combating transnational crime. But Rubio may be hard-pressed to avoid the tariff issue that has vexed some of America’s closest allies and partners in Asia, including Japan and South Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face 25% tariffs if there is no deal. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned that global trade is being weaponized as U.S. tariffs loom over Southeast Asia. Speaking at an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting on Wednesday, Anwar urged the bloc to strengthen regional trade and reduce reliance on external powers. Rubio’s “talking points on the China threat will not resonate with officials whose industries are being battered by 30-40% tariffs,” said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific during the Obama administration. When Anwar said "ASEAN will approach challenges ‘as a united bloc’ — he wasn’t talking about Chinese coercion but about U.S. tariffs,” Russel noted. 8 of ASEAN's 10 members face major tariff hikes Among ASEAN states, Trump has so far announced tariffs on almost all of the 10 members of the bloc, which would face a 25% tariff that could specifically hit its electronics and electrical product exports to the United States. Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz said Wednesday that while Malaysia is ready to resume tariff negotiations, it would not cross its red lines, including U.S. requests for changes to government procurement, halal certification, medical standards and digital taxes. Trump sent tariff letters to two more ASEAN members Wednesday: Brunei, whose imports would be taxed at 25%, and the Philippines at 20%. Others hit this week include Cambodia at 36%, Indonesia at 32%, Laos at 40%, Malaysia at 25%, Myanmar at 40% and Thailand at 36%. Vietnam recently agreed to a trade deal for a 20% tariffs on its imports, while Singapore still faces a 10% tariff that was imposed in April. The Trump administration has courted most Southeast Asian nations in a bid to blunt or at least temper China’s push to dominate the region. In Kuala Lumpur, Rubio also will likely come face-to-face with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his brief visit of roughly 36 hours. Russel noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is a veteran of such gatherings and “fluent in ASEAN principles and conventions,” while Rubio “is a rookie trying to sell an ‘America First’ message to a deeply skeptical audience.” Issues with China, including on trade, human rights, the militarization of the South China Sea and China's support for Russia in Ukraine, remain substantial. U.S. officials continue to accuse China of resupplying and revamping Russia’s military industrial sector, allowing it to produce additional weapons that it can use attack Ukraine.    

US President Donald Trump has warned he will impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, intensifying tensions with the South American nation. The proposed hike was outlined in a letter shared on social media, where Trump accused Brazil of targeting American tech companies and persecuting former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial over an alleged coup attempt following the 2022 election. In the letter, Trump denounced what he described as Brazil's “attacks” on US tech firms and referred to Bolsonaro's prosecution as a “witch hunt.” Reacting on social media, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vowed to retaliate if tariffs are raised and rejected any outside pressure on the country's judiciary. “No one is above the law,” Lula said earlier this week, adding that Brazil “would not accept interference from anyone.” Trump also announced Wednesday that a previously declared 50% tariff on copper imports would take effect on August 1, citing national security reasons. The move is part of a broader campaign, with Trump sending tariff notifications to 22 countries this week, including key trade partners like Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. Most of these actions revive earlier proposals delayed due to financial market concerns. However, Trump’s message to Brazil was notably more pointed, escalating from the previously proposed 10% tariff. He labeled the 50% rate “necessary... to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime,” and called for a Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s digital trade policies—an approach the US has used before to justify punitive tariffs. Trump also accused the Brazilian government of undermining free speech and democratic norms, pointing to rulings that targeted US social media companies like his own Trump Media. The criticism comes as Brazil’s courts have clashed with tech platforms, including Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), over content related to the 2022 election. Brazil’s Supreme Court recently ruled that platforms could be held liable for content shared by users. In the letter, Trump expressed support for Bolsonaro, saying he “respected him greatly” and describing his ongoing legal troubles as “an international disgrace.” The two had a warm relationship during their overlapping presidencies and shared similar political styles. Bolsonaro has denied any role in the January 2023 riots that saw his supporters storm Brazil's government buildings following Lula’s election win. Earlier this week, Trump compared Bolsonaro’s legal challenges to his own: “This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent - Something I know much about!” Bolsonaro responded by thanking Trump for his solidarity. Trump also took aim at the recent Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, calling the group—which includes Brazil—“anti-American” and vowing to impose an additional 10% tariff on those nations. In response, Lula criticized Trump's posture, saying, “He needs to know that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.”