United News of Bangladesh

A Danish national suspected of gathering intelligence on Jewish individuals and locations in Berlin on behalf of Iranian authorities has been arrested in Denmark, German prosecutors said Tuesday. The suspect, identified only as Ali S. in accordance with German privacy laws, was detained last Thursday in the Danish city of Aarhus, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. He is accused of working for an Iranian intelligence agency, which allegedly tasked him earlier this year with collecting information on “Jewish sites and specific Jewish individuals” in Berlin. Prosecutors say he conducted surveillance on three properties in June, which they believe may have been part of preparations for additional intelligence operations or potential attacks on Jewish targets in Germany. "If these suspicions are confirmed, we are facing a deeply alarming operation," said German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, adding that the protection of Jewish communities remains a top priority for the German government. Denmark reiterates support for 'peaceful, democratic, equitable' Bangladesh  Following a brief but intense conflict between Israel and Iran in June, German security agencies increased protective measures for Jewish and Israeli establishments across the country. The suspect’s arrest followed intelligence shared by Germany’s domestic security service. He is expected to be extradited to Germany, where a judge will decide whether he remains in custody while formal charges are prepared. The exact timeline for his extradition remains unclear. In response to the incident, Germany summoned Iranian Ambassador Majid Nili Ahmadabadi to its Foreign Ministry. The Iranian Embassy in Berlin dismissed the allegations as “unfounded and dangerous,” claiming they are part of a deliberate attempt to distract from Israel’s recent military actions against Iran and the deaths of Iranian citizens. Germany, a close ally of Israel, has long had strained relations with Tehran. Nevertheless, it remains one of the European nations engaged in diplomatic efforts regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Relations worsened further in October, when Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates following Tehran’s announcement of the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd — an Iranian-German national living in the United States who was abducted by Iranian security forces in Dubai in 2020. Iran's embassy in Berlin now remains its only diplomatic mission in the country.

Russia’s former deputy defense minister, Timur Ivanov, was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of embezzlement and money laundering in a high-profile corruption case that has highlighted deep-rooted graft within the Russian military — a factor many blame for Moscow’s failures on the battlefield in Ukraine. Ivanov, 49, is the most prominent figure caught up in an extensive investigation into military corruption that has implicated several senior officials linked to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Despite the crackdown on his associates, Shoigu, a longtime ally of President Vladimir Putin, retained his political influence and was recently appointed as the head of Russia’s Security Council. Appointed as deputy defense minister in 2016, Ivanov was responsible for overseeing military construction, property management, housing, and medical support for armed forces personnel. His extravagant lifestyle sparked public anger in Russia, particularly as the war in Ukraine revealed significant shortcomings in military logistics and organization that contributed to Russia’s military struggles. Russian drone strike kills a married couple and injures 17 others, Ukraine says Ivanov was arrested in April 2024 and has been in detention since. On Tuesday, Moscow City Court convicted him of embezzling 3.9 billion rubles — approximately $50 million — which he has denied. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the seizure of his assets, which reportedly include luxury real estate and a valuable collection of vintage cars. Ivanov’s legal team announced plans to appeal the verdict. He has also been placed under sanctions by both the United States and the European Union for his involvement in Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.    

Four people have been detained in Istanbul for publishing a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad, which authorities say insults religious values. The arrests follow an investigation launched by Istanbul prosecutors into the alleged "public insult to religious values." The controversial cartoon appeared in the June 26 issue of satirical magazine Leman, referencing the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions and showing the Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses shaking hands over a devastated cityscape. The cartoon triggered widespread anger. Videos shared on social media show large crowds demonstrating outside Leman's Istanbul office, with some protesters attempting to enter the building by force. Fahrettin Altun, Türkiye's Communications Director, denounced the publication on social platform X, vowing that those who "shamelessly attack the sacred values of our nation" would face consequences. “This insult to our Prophet, who is the ultimate guide for Muslims, cannot be justified under the guise of press freedom,” Altun stated, calling the cartoon the product of a "sick mentality" that will be brought to justice. DU students protest BJP spokespersons’ derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad He urged the public to act with restraint and warned against provocations. Altun also assured that all state institutions are taking appropriate steps to address what he described as "this despicable attack on our faith and values." Additional security has been deployed around the magazine’s premises to prevent any untoward incidents, officials said. Depictions of prophets, including Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses — both revered in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — are strictly prohibited in Islamic tradition. Source: Anadolu 

Representatives from dozens of countries convened Monday in Spain for a major United Nations conference aimed at addressing widening global inequalities and generating the trillions of dollars required to close the development gap—without the participation of the United States, once a key contributor. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the four-day Financing for Development summit in Seville, highlighting the difficult context: rising debt, falling investments, dwindling foreign aid, and growing trade barriers. “Development depends on financing, yet right now that engine is faltering,” Guterres warned in his opening remarks. “We have come to Seville to change direction—to fix and accelerate the engine of development so that investment flows at the scale and speed the world needs.” Co-hosted by the U.N. and the Spanish government, the conference is seen as a critical moment to address the estimated $4 trillion annual shortfall in funding needed to tackle poverty, achieve the U.N.’s lagging 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and lift millions out of hardship. Despite ongoing global instability and heightened geopolitical tensions, conference organizers remain hopeful the international community can confront the pressing challenge of ensuring access to food, healthcare, education, and clean water for all. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed that optimism, telling delegates the summit was an opportunity to reject the belief that global rivalry and competition should define humanity’s future. Israeli airstrike on Iran’s Evin Prison raises fears for political prisoners Ambitious Plan to Bridge the Financial Divide Over 70 world leaders and thousands of officials from development banks, international financial bodies, philanthropies, businesses, and civil society groups are attending the Seville gathering, according to the U.N. However, the absence of the United States has cast a shadow over proceedings. Washington withdrew from the summit earlier this month after objecting to a 38-page outcome document that had been under negotiation for months among the U.N.’s 193 member states. Despite U.S. opposition, the other nations endorsed the agreement by consensus, paving the way for its formal adoption in Seville under the name The Seville Commitment (Compromiso de Sevilla). The document outlines urgent reforms to bridge the $4 trillion financing gap, including proposals for countries to ensure tax revenues amount to at least 15% of GDP, a threefold increase in lending from multilateral development banks, and mechanisms to boost private investment in essential areas such as infrastructure. It also emphasizes reforms to help countries manage soaring debt burdens. U.N. trade chief Rebeca Grynspan recently underscored the severity of the crisis, stating that “development is regressing” amid rising global debt. In 2024, 3.3 billion people lived in countries that spent more on debt interest than on health or education—a figure projected to reach 3.4 billion this year. Developing nations are expected to spend $947 billion servicing debts in 2025, up from $847 billion last year. An expert panel appointed by Guterres has put forward 11 recommendations to address the debt crisis, strengthen borrower nations, and promote a fairer global financial system. Israeli settlers attack military base in the West Bank U.S. Pushback on Global Reform Efforts American diplomat Jonathan Shrier explained Washington’s withdrawal, saying while the U.S. remains committed to global cooperation and economic development, the Seville agreement crossed several “red lines.” These included provisions seen as interfering with how international financial institutions are governed, expanding multilateral development bank lending, and granting the U.N. greater influence over global debt frameworks. The U.S. also opposed certain trade, tax, and innovation proposals, including calls for a U.N. framework on international tax cooperation, which conflict with American policy. The U.S., historically the world’s largest foreign aid donor, has scaled back significantly in recent years. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was dismantled and foreign assistance budgets slashed, with Trump calling such spending wasteful. Other Western nations have also reduced international aid contributions. U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called the U.S. exit from the Seville summit “regrettable,” emphasizing that many of the proposed actions cannot succeed without American involvement. “We will continue engaging with the U.S. after Seville and hope to convince them to play a role in lifting millions out of poverty,” Mohammed said.

At least two people were killed and 17 others injured after Russian drones targeted the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday. Emergency services reported that a drone crashed into a residential high-rise, damaging three floors and trapping several residents. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that the victims were a married couple, while three children were among the injured. Russian Missile and Drone Strike Injures 20 in Kyiv Russia has not yet commented on the incident. However, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses intercepted over 40 Ukrainian drones overnight and into Saturday morning across western Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea. Drone strikes have become a defining feature of the war, now entering its fourth year. Both Russia and Ukraine have accelerated efforts to develop advanced and more lethal drones, turning the conflict into a battleground for testing new military technologies.    

The heads of the European Union’s 27 member nations will meet Thursday in Brussels to discuss tougher sanctions on Russia, ways to prevent painful new US tariffs and how to make their voices heard in the Middle East conflicts. Most of the leaders will arrive from a brief but intense NATO summit where they pledged a big boost in defense spending, and papered over some of their differences with US President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join the EU summit by videoconference, after meeting Trump on Wednesday. US-led NATO downgraded Ukraine from a top priority to a side player this week, but Russia’s war in Ukraine remains of paramount concern for the EU. Members will be discussing an 18th round of sanctions against Russia and whether to maintain a price cap on Russian oil, measures that some nations oppose because it could raise energy prices, reports AP. Meanwhile, Trump’s threatened tariffs are weighing on the EU, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member countries. He lashed out at Spain on Wednesday for not spending more on defence and suggested yet more tariffs. France’s president called Trump to task for starting a trade war with longtime allies. World Bank approves over $1 billion for projects in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq European leaders are also concerned about fallout from the wars in the Middle East, and the EU is pushing to revive diplomatic negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. EU members have internal disagreements to overcome. They are divided over what to do about European policy toward Israel because of its conduct in Gaza. And left-leaning parties are attacking European Commissioner Ursula von Der Leyen’s pivot away from the EU’s climate leadership in favour of military investment. Defence and security are likely to top the agenda. The summit will end with a statement of conclusions that will set the agenda for the bloc for the next four months and can be seen as a bellwether for political sentiment in Europe on major regional and global issues.

At first glance, they resemble typical sailboats, their sails marked with Denmark’s red-and-white flag. But these 10-meter (30-foot) vessels carry no crew. Known as “Voyagers,” these robotic sailboats are designed for autonomous surveillance missions and have been deployed by the Danish Armed Forces for a three-month operational trial. Built by U.S.-based Saildrone, headquartered in Alameda, California, the Voyagers will patrol both Danish and NATO-controlled waters in the Baltic and North Seas. This region has seen a surge in maritime tensions and suspected sabotage following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Two of the four Voyagers began operations on Monday from Koge Marina, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Copenhagen. The other two were deployed earlier, on June 6, to participate in a NATO patrol. Powered by a combination of wind and solar energy, the uncrewed vessels are capable of remaining at sea for months at a time without human intervention. Each Voyager is equipped with sophisticated sensor technology, including radar, infrared and optical cameras, sonar, and acoustic monitoring systems. These tools allow the vessels to detect activity both above and below the ocean’s surface over a range of 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 kilometers) in open waters. What is Strait of Hormuz? Could it play a role in Israel-Iran conflict? Saildrone’s founder and CEO, Richard Jenkins, likened the Voyager to a mobile sensor platform or “truck” that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide a comprehensive view of maritime activity. He emphasized that critical threats — such as damage to undersea cables, illegal fishing, and smuggling of people, drugs, or weapons — often go unnoticed simply because no one is monitoring these remote regions. “We’re going to places where we previously didn’t have eyes and ears,” Jenkins said. According to Denmark’s Defense Ministry, the goal of the trial is to enhance surveillance in areas that have long been under-monitored, especially around key subsea infrastructure like fiber-optic cables and power lines. “The security situation in the Baltic is tense,” said Lt. Gen. Kim Jørgensen, Director of Danish National Armaments. “They’re going to cruise Danish waters, and then later they’re going to join up with the two that are on (the) NATO exercise. And then they’ll move from area to area within the Danish waters.” The trial comes at a critical time for NATO, which has been responding to a series of incidents involving damage to maritime infrastructure. These include the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions and the rupture of at least 11 undersea cables since late 2023. The most recent disruption, in January, severed a fiber-optic connection between Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland Island. The deployment also unfolds in the context of past tensions between Denmark and the U.S. — particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency, when his administration expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. Trump even suggested he would not rule out military action to seize it. Saildrone’s Jenkins said the company had already planned to establish operations in Denmark before Trump’s reelection and declined to comment on the Greenland issue, stating that Saildrone does not engage in politics. Some maritime incidents have been linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — aging oil tankers that operate under murky ownership structures to evade international sanctions. In one case, Finnish authorities seized the vessel Eagle S in December after it allegedly damaged an underwater power cable between Finland and Estonia using its anchor. Western governments continue to accuse Russia of conducting hybrid warfare, targeting both land and maritime assets. In response, NATO is developing a multi-layered maritime surveillance network. This system combines autonomous surface vessels like the Voyagers with conventional naval ships, satellites, and seabed sensors. Pakistan rejects reports of missile supply to Iran Peter Viggo Jakobsen of the Royal Danish Defense College said maintaining continuous maritime presence with traditional ships is prohibitively expensive. “It’s simply too expensive for us to have a warship trailing every single Russian ship, be it a warship or a civilian freighter of some kind,” he explained. Jakobsen emphasized that the goal is to maintain constant monitoring of potential threats through a more cost-effective, layered approach.

At least 20 people were injured in a combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight Tuesday, according to Ukrainian authorities, marking the latest in a series of intensified Russian assaults on the capital. The strike coincided with the ongoing Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending. The summit, hosted by Canada as this year’s G7 chair, is scheduled to conclude Tuesday. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that nine people were injured in the Sviatoshynskyi district, while 11 others were wounded in the Solomianskyi district. Six of the victims required hospitalization. Fires also broke out in two additional districts after debris from intercepted missiles fell, officials said. Zelenskyy, invited to the G7 summit by Canada, is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders during his visit. He was also scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, though the White House later confirmed Trump would cut his trip short and return to Washington amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Russia returns bodies of 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers under Istanbul agreement Russia has ramped up its aerial bombardments in recent weeks, launching a record number of drones and missiles. The escalation follows a bold operation by Ukraine’s Security Service, which reportedly targeted Russian warplanes stationed at air bases deep within Russian territory. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have seen little advancement. President Zelenskyy noted that direct negotiations in Istanbul have so far yielded only limited outcomes, with a prisoner swap expected to be finalized next week being one of the few tangible results.    

Russia has handed over the bodies of another 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the ongoing war, bringing the total number of war dead repatriated to Ukraine to more than 4,800, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday. Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced the development via Telegram, stating that the return was part of a broader agreement reached during talks in Istanbul earlier this month. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov expressed gratitude to all those involved in the handover process, noting that the upcoming identification phase would be “a complex and sensitive task” aimed at providing closure to grieving families. The recent exchange represents one of the largest returns of remains since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. While Russian state media confirmed the transfer, it claimed Moscow had not received any Russian bodies in return, accusing Kyiv of failing to uphold its end of the deal. According to the agreement, both sides are to exchange up to 6,000 bodies, along with severely wounded prisoners and those under the age of 25. So far, Russia says it has received only 27 of its fallen soldiers. Russian attacks kill 3 as drones hit Kharkiv and other parts of Ukraine Ukraine has not publicly responded to the allegation. The latest repatriation came amid heightened hostilities. Russia claimed it had captured the village of Malynivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and was making advances toward the northeastern Sumy region, with forces reportedly just 18 to 20 kilometers from Sumy's capital. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said it targeted a drone production facility in Russia’s Tatarstan region, about 1,000 kilometers from the border. The site in the city of Yelabuga was allegedly being used to manufacture and launch drones for attacks on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Source: With inputs from Al Jazeera      

Centuries-old monasteries have been damaged by an ongoing series of earthquakes in a secluded monastic community in northern Greece, authorities said Friday. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck the Mount Athos peninsula on June 7, followed by a series of both undersea and land-based tremors that continued through Friday. The quakes caused “severe cracks” in the dome of the Monastery of Xenophon, which was built in the late 10th century, and damaged religious frescoes at that site and several others, the Culture Ministry said. Mount Athos is one of the most important religious sites for Orthodox Christians, and is often referred to as the Holy Mountain. It is a semi-autonomous monastic republic and is home to 20 Orthodox monasteries. The self-governing community still observes strict traditions under Greek sovereignty, including a ban on all women entering the territory. At least 290 killed in Air India crash “We are fully aware of the immense archaeological, historical, and spiritual significance of Mount Athos, and we are ensuring that all damage is addressed according to scientific and ethical standards,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said. The restoration work — including structural reinforcement and the repair of artwork — will be expanded and accelerated, Mendoni added. A more detailed assessment of the damage is expected next week, the Culture Ministry said.