United News of Bangladesh

The director of Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital was killed along with several family members in an Israeli air strike on his home in the city of Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said. The ministry represented, Dr Marwan Sultan, as a symbol of medical commitment and condemned his killing as a “heinous crime.” Lubna al-Sultan, the daughter of Dr Marwan Sultan, said that an Israeli missile directly aimed his room. All the rooms remained intake except his. She further added that her father has no connections with any political party and his main focus was only on treating patients. Meanwhile, at least five people were killed and others injured, including children, in a strike on the al-Mawasi "safe zone",one of several other attacks reported by news agencies. Besides, at least 139 people were killed by Israeli military operations across Gaza in the 24 hours before midday on Wednesday, the health ministry said. Trump says deal for ceasefire in Gaza is closer after Israel agrees on terms The Israeli military, however, claimed that it had struck a “key terrorist” in Gaza city but was evaluating the claims of civilian fatality. It put blame on Hamas for using residential areas as shields while the IDF stated it regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians. The Indonesian Hospital, which was once a major facility in northern Gaza providing crucial support to the victims and injured people, has been out of service following frequent Israeli air strikes. Additionally, the UN also said that there are no running hospitals left in northern Gaza. According to the health ministry, Israel's military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 57,000 people, including more than 15,000 children.

Thailand’s new Cabinet members took their oaths of office Thursday, including the suspended prime minister who is under an ethics investigation for her remarks to a senior Cambodian leader. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended as prime minister Tuesday, the same day Thailand's king endorsed a Cabinet lineup in which she would be the culture minister. Paetongtarn was smiling as she arrived at Government House for the swearing-in ceremony with other new members, but did not answer questions. Acting Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit led the new Cabinet members at the ceremony to receive the endorsement from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Suriya is expected later to assign the acting prime minister duty to Phumtham Wechayachai, who was sworn in Thursday as deputy prime minister and interior minister. Phumtham had been deputy prime minister and defense minister since Paetongtarn took office last year. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn suspended over leaked phone call controversy Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia, including an armed confrontation in May in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. In a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, she attempted to defuse tensions — but instead set off a string of complaints and public protests. Critics said she went to far in appeasing Hun Sen and damaged Thailand's image and reputation. The Constitutional Court voted unanimously Tuesday to review a petition accusing her of a breach of the ethics, and voted 7-2 to immediately suspend her until it issues its ruling. The court gave Paetongtarn 15 days to give evidence to support her case. It's unclear when it will rule.

US President Donald Trump has demanded Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell "resign immediately." In a post on his social platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump linked to an article about comments from Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who called on Congress to investigate Powell over his alleged political bias and deception of the Senate. Paramount to pay $16m in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview According to Xinhua, Trump has previously threatened to remove Powell from his position before his term expires next year, repeatedly lambasting the Fed chair for not cutting interest rates.

US President Donald Trump has said Israel has agreed on terms for a new 60-day ceasefire with Hamas and that Washington would work with both sides during that time to try to end more than 20 months of war in Gaza. Neither side has accepted the proposal announced Tuesday by Trump, who has admonished Hamas that if they do not buy into the offer, its prospects will get worse. It's not clear what conditions Israel agreed to. According to AP, the efforts to reach a truce are unfolding in the wake of powerful Israeli and American strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, which has long supported Hamas, and just days before Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Details of the proposed ceasefire are just beginning to emerge. But rather than being completely new, the potential deal seems to be a somewhat modified version of a framework proposed earlier this year by Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Trump says Israel agrees to conditions for 60-day Gaza ceasefire Trump said Tuesday in a social media post that Qatar and Egypt have been working on the details and would deliver a final proposal to Hamas. An Egyptian official involved in the ceasefire talks told The Associated Press that the proposal calls for Hamas to release 10 more hostages during the two-month period — eight on the first day and two on the final day. During that period, Israel would withdraw troops from some parts of Gaza and allow badly needed aid into the territory. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The group is believed to still have some 50 hostages, with fewer than half of them thought to be alive.

Rescuers were searching Thursday for 32 people missing after a ferry sank the previous night near Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. Four bodies have been recovered, and weather and sea conditions were improving during the morning, aiding the search for survivors. So far, 29 people have been rescued, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency. Family members came to the departure port in panic, some weeping, as they sought reassurance about their loved ones and hoped they were among the survivors. Nine boats, including two tug boats and two inflatable boats, as well as local fishermen and people onshore searched for people. Strong waves up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) high and darkness had hampered the search overnight, but a rescue official said improved weather and sea conditions in the morning made it easier for rescuers to continue the search for the missing victims. The KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank almost half an hour after leaving Ketapang port in the East Java town of Banyuwangi late Wednesday, bound for Bali’s Gilimanuk port, a 50-kilometer (30-mile) trip. Death toll rises to 36 in India pharma factory blast The ferry carried 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, including 14 trucks, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. The ferry sinking was witnessed by the on-duty officer at the port before it was reported to the rescue team. “The ferry could not be contacted via radio from the beginning. Then it could be contacted by other ships from the same company. But the ship was already in a tilting condition,” said Nanang Sigit, head of Surabaya Search and Rescue agency, in a statement. “For today’s search we are focusing on searching on the water, as the initial victims were found in the water between the location of the accident toward Gilimanuk port,” Sigit said. Many of those rescued were unconscious after drifting in choppy waters for hours, said Banyuwangi police chief Rama Samtama Putra. Ferry tragedies are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where ferries are often used as transport and safety regulations can lapse.

Ukraine is moving forward with early plans to jointly produce weapons with some of its international allies, officials confirmed, even as the United States announced a halt to certain promised arms shipments intended to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia. The developments come at a critical stage in Russia’s full-scale invasion, now nearing three and a half years. A renewed Russian offensive aimed at seizing more Ukrainian territory is putting Ukraine’s overstretched defenses under extreme pressure, while Russian missiles and drones continue to pound Ukrainian cities. At the same time, U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal have reached a standstill. With the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump pulling back from support for Ukraine’s war effort, European nations are facing increased responsibility to pressure Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Tuesday for the first time in nearly three years. According to Macron’s office, during their two-hour conversation, Macron reaffirmed France’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and called for a ceasefire. Russian drone strike kills a married couple and injures 17 others, Ukraine says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said preparations are underway for upcoming meetings with European Union member states and other allies to discuss defense industry cooperation. “One of the main topics will be weapons production — joint investments, joint projects,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Tuesday. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that draft legislation enabling joint weapons production with international partners will be presented to Ukraine’s parliament later this month. Umerov stated that national defense companies reviewed the proposed laws on Tuesday. The plan includes establishing special legal and tax measures to support Ukrainian defense manufacturers in expanding and modernizing production. This could involve building new weapons manufacturing facilities both inside Ukraine and abroad, according to Umerov. Earlier this week, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Kyiv, where he pledged Germany’s support to help Ukraine accelerate domestic weapons production. He was joined by representatives from Germany’s defense industry. Meanwhile, U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday that certain weapons deliveries to Ukraine are being paused over concerns that U.S. stockpiles have fallen to dangerously low levels. These weapons were pledged under the previous Biden administration, but the Pentagon did not specify which systems are being withheld. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires, John Hinkel, on Wednesday for discussions on defense cooperation. Deputy Foreign Minister Maryana Betsa expressed gratitude for U.S. assistance but underscored the “critical importance” of delivering the previously promised defense packages, particularly to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. Putin and Trump discussed Middle East tensions, Ukraine war in phone call Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacted by saying that the Pentagon’s move could bring a negotiated settlement closer, stating, “The fewer weapons supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the war is.” The U.S. has been Ukraine’s largest military supporter since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. However, since Trump took office, Washington has announced no new military or weapons aid for Ukraine. According to Germany’s Kiel Institute, which tracks global military support, the U.S. provided no new assistance to Ukraine between March and April this year. For the first time since June 2022, European nations surpassed the U.S. in total military aid, contributing 72 billion euros ($85 billion) compared to the U.S.’s 65 billion euros ($77 billion), the institute reported last month. Washington’s latest decision could deprive Ukraine of some of its most advanced battlefield weaponry. Analysts say Europe can help fill some gaps by supplying artillery systems, but there are no European alternatives to key U.S.-made weapons like HIMARS missile launchers and Patriot air defense systems, both vital for protecting Ukrainian cities from Russian airstrikes. Ukraine's current stockpile levels and its most urgent defense needs remain unclear.

Iran’s president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities, likely further limiting inspectors' ability to track Tehran's program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. According to AP, the order by President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, included no timetables or details about what that suspension would entail. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signalled in a CBS News interview that Tehran still would be willing to continue negotiations with the United States. “I don’t think negotiations will restart as quickly as that,” Araghchi said, referring to Trump's comments that talks could start as early as this week. However, he added: “The doors of diplomacy will never slam shut.” Iran has limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West — though as of right now Tehran has denied that there's any immediate plans to resume talks with the United States that had been upended by the 12-day Iran-Israel war. Iranian state television announced Pezeshkian's order, which followed a law passed by Iran’s parliament to suspend that cooperation. The bill already received the approval of Iran's constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council, on Thursday, and likely the support of the country's Supreme National Security Council, which Pezeshkian chairs. “The government is mandated to immediately suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency under the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its related Safeguards Agreement,” state television quoted the bill as saying. "This suspension will remain in effect until certain conditions are met, including the guaranteed security of nuclear facilities and scientists.” Iran took preparations to block Strait of Hormuz: Report It wasn’t immediately clear what that would mean for the Vienna-based IAEA, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. The agency long has monitored Iran’s nuclear program and said that it was waiting for an official communication from Iran on what the suspension meant. On the other hand, Iran's decision drew an immediate condemnation from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. “Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA,” he said in an X post. “This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments.” Saar urged European nations that were part of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal to implement its so-called snapback clause. That would reimpose all UN sanctions on it originally lifted by Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, if one of its Western parties declares the Islamic Republic is out of compliance with it. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, and the IAEA doesn't have access to its weapons-related facilities.

In a case seen as a challenge to free speech, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the editing of CBS' “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October. Paramount told media outlets the money will go to Trump’s future presidential library, not to the president himself. It said the settlement did not involve an apology. Trump’s lawyer said the president had suffered “mental anguish” over the editing of the interview by CBS News, while Paramount and CBS rejected his contention that it was edited to enhance how Harris sounded. They had sought to get Trump's lawsuit dismissed. There was no immediate word from the White House about the settlement of the case, which Trump filed in Amarillo, Texas. The case has been closely watched by advocates for press freedom and by journalists within CBS, whose lawyers called Trump’s lawsuit “completely without merit” and promised to vigorously fight it after it was filed. In early February, “60 Minutes” released a full, unedited transcript of the interview. Under the settlement reached with help of a mediator, Paramount agreed that “60 Minutes” will release transcripts of future interviews of presidential candidates, “subject to redactions as required for legal and national security concerns,” CBS News cited the statement as saying. Trump says Israel agrees to conditions for 60-day Gaza ceasefire Trump, who did not agree to be interviewed by “60 Minutes” during the campaign, protested editing where Harris is seen giving two different answers to a question by the show’s Bill Whitaker in separate clips aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation” earlier in the day. CBS said each reply came within Harris’ long-winded answer to Whitaker, but was edited to be more succinct. The president's lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said that caused confusion and “mental anguish," misleading voters and causing them to pay less attention to Trump and his Truth Social platform. Paramount and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone were seeking the settlement with Trump, whose administration must approve the company’s proposed merger with Skydance Media. CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens, who both opposed a settlement, have resigned in recent weeks. The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a media advocacy group that says it is a Paramount shareholder, has said that it would file a lawsuit in protest if a settlement was reached. In December, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit by Trump over statements made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, agreeing to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library rather than engage in a public fight. Meta reportedly paid $25 million to settle Trump’s lawsuit against the company over its decision to suspend his social media accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.

Hamas on Wednesday indicated it is open to a ceasefire with Israel but reiterated that any agreement must include a full and permanent end to the war in Gaza. The group stopped short of accepting a new U.S.-backed proposal presented earlier by President Donald Trump. In remarks on Tuesday, Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire plan and urged Hamas to accept the terms swiftly, warning that conditions on the ground could worsen if no deal is reached. He also emphasized that the pause could serve as a step toward a broader resolution to the conflict — though Israel maintains it won’t agree to end the war unless Hamas is dismantled. Hamas’ response was cautiously positive but underscored its core demand: a complete cessation of hostilities. “We are ready and serious about reaching an agreement,” said Hamas spokesperson Taher al-Nunu. “But we will only accept a deal that clearly leads to a full end to the war.” An Egyptian official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the talks, confirmed that a Hamas delegation would meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the offer. Ongoing Disagreements Over Ending the War Disagreements over how and when to end the nearly 21-month conflict have repeatedly stalled peace negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Hamas has said it is willing to release the remaining hostages — estimated at around 50, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive — in return for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza and a formal end to the war. Israel, meanwhile, insists the war can only end if Hamas agrees to disarm, surrender, and leave Gaza — conditions the group has rejected outright. According to an Israeli official familiar with the latest proposal, the current plan includes a 60-day truce, a limited Israeli pullback from Gaza, and increased humanitarian aid. While the U.S. and regional mediators would offer guarantees that discussions toward ending the war would continue, Israel has not committed to any formal resolution as part of the deal. The number of hostages to be released under the deal remains unclear, though earlier proposals have mentioned freeing around 10 captives. The Israeli official also spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel has yet to officially respond to Trump’s announcement. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday. The visit follows talks last week between Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer and senior U.S. officials on issues related to Gaza and Iran. Trump Issues Stark Warning to Hamas In a post on social media Tuesday, Trump said Israel had “agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE,” and warned Hamas not to miss this opportunity. “I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump wrote. Hamas has previously met such ultimatums with skepticism. Trump has issued similar warnings in the past, including during the lead-up to the end of the war’s longest pause in March, without achieving a long-term truce. Despite the uncertainty, Trump views the current proposal as a possible breakthrough in a war that has devastated Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its figures, over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed — more than half of them women and children. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting approximately 250. Since then, the war has reduced large parts of Gaza to rubble, displacing over 90% of its 2.3 million residents — many more than once. The humanitarian crisis has intensified, leaving hundreds of thousands facing food insecurity and worsening conditions by the day.  

Zohran Mamdani has officially won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a surprising upset confirmed by final vote counts released Tuesday. The Associated Press called the race after the city’s ranked-choice voting results were made public, showing Mamdani ahead of Cuomo by a decisive 12-point margin. In a statement following the confirmation, Mamdani expressed gratitude for the widespread support, saying: “Last Tuesday, Democrats delivered a clear mandate—for an affordable city, forward-looking politics, and a leader willing to confront growing authoritarianism.” Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and New York State Assembly member since 2021, entered the race with little name recognition but rapidly built a powerful grassroots campaign. He focused on progressive issues while Cuomo, attempting a political comeback after his 2021 resignation over sexual harassment allegations, struggled to regain public trust. Although Mamdani had declared victory after election night, he fell just short of the 50% threshold required to avoid redistribution under the ranked-choice voting system. Once second-choice preferences were counted, he secured the win. He will now face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, independent candidate Jim Walden, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in November’s general election. Cuomo Considers Next Steps Despite conceding on primary night, Cuomo has not ruled out continuing his campaign via an independent run. His spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, reacted to Tuesday’s results by stating, “We’re continuing discussions with people across the city as we consider our next move.” Azzopardi criticized Mamdani’s victory as unrepresentative of most voters, saying: “Extremism, division, and empty promises won’t solve this city’s problems.” A Bold Campaign With a New Vision Mamdani’s platform, which included proposals like fare-free buses, universal child care, a rent freeze, and state-run grocery stores funded through taxes on the wealthy, was credited with reshaping the conversation within the Democratic Party. His campaign claims to have offered a new model for progressives amid rising national political uncertainty. While many establishment Democrats have praised the energy of his campaign, they’ve stopped short of offering full support, partly due to Mamdani’s critiques of policing, his use of the term “genocide” in reference to Israel’s actions in Gaza, and his identification as a democratic socialist—factors seen as politically sensitive. A Historic Candidacy Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani moved to the U.S. at age 7 and became a citizen in 2018. If elected, he would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, its first mayor of Indian descent, and one of its youngest ever. Cuomo’s Bid Focused on Experience Cuomo campaigned on his long political résumé, positioning himself as the steady hand New York needed. He emphasized fighting antisemitism and avoided direct voter engagement, relying instead on his established fundraising network and name recognition. He continued to deny the allegations that ended his governorship, calling them politically motivated. Republicans See an Opening Republicans, including Donald Trump, have seized on Mamdani’s rise as a symbol of left-wing extremism. “If I’m a Republican, I want this guy to win,” said Syracuse University political scientist Grant Reeher, noting that Mamdani provides a sharp contrast in upcoming national campaigns. Trump acknowledged Mamdani’s growing influence, telling reporters, “He still has a race to win—and so far he’s winning.” Eric Adams Rejoins the Race Mayor Eric Adams, who withdrew from the primary in April following a since-dismissed federal bribery case, is now running as an independent. He reactivated his campaign shortly after Mamdani’s victory announcement, casting the race as a contrast between working-class experience and “silver spoon” privilege. Echoing Cuomo’s rhetoric, Adams warned against Mamdani’s agenda, calling it reckless and untested. “This isn’t the time for experiments—we need proven leadership to keep New Yorkers safe,” he told reporters on Tuesday.