United News of Bangladesh

UNESCO has added the archaeological site of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank and five historic castles in southern Lebanon to its World Heritage List, despite strong objections from Israel. The decision was taken on Friday during a meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. The committee also placed both sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The move came just days after Israel's Foreign Ministry urged the committee to reject the nominations, accusing those behind the proposals of using cultural heritage for political purposes. Sebastia, located about 10 kilometres northwest of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is widely identified by historians as the ancient city of Samaria, the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel. The site contains archaeological remains from the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods. According to UNESCO, both Christian and Islamic traditions identify Sebastia as the burial place of John the Baptist. The Palestinian delegation first nominated Sebastia for World Heritage status in 2012, arguing that the designation would help protect and preserve the site. The nomination said the area, which remains under Israeli control, needs greater conservation despite attracting visitors. The designation comes as Israel moves to take control of large areas of land surrounding Sebastia while facing international pressure to curb violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory. The five castles in Lebanon's Mount Amel region were recognised for their architectural importance. UNESCO said the castles reflect nearly 900 years of military architecture, combining Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk and local influences. Adel Naim Daoud Atieh, a member of the Palestinian delegation to UNESCO, said the recognition honours the people of Sebastia, who have protected the site for generations despite occupation, restrictions and repeated efforts to separate them from their cultural heritage. Israel withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, accusing the agency of bias and of failing to recognise the country's historical links to the Holy Land. An Israeli delegate attending the Busan meeting as an observer said politics had undermined UNESCO's credibility and distorted history. Earlier this week, Israel's Foreign Ministry accused the Palestinian delegation of falsely portraying Sebastia as an emergency case. It described the nomination as a political effort to ignore the site's Jewish and Christian history. Israel also opposed the inclusion of Beaufort Castle, one of the five Lebanese castles, claiming that Hezbollah has turned it into a military base by building tunnels beneath the site and launching rockets from the area. UNESCO and the Lebanese embassy in South Korea declined to comment on Israel's allegations. At Friday's meeting, a Lebanese delegate said the castles have been used only for cultural and tourism purposes since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. The delegate also accused Israeli media of misrepresenting tourist facilities as military tunnels. Earlier this week, UNESCO also placed the ancient Lebanese city of Tyre on its List of World Heritage in Danger.

Spain declared a national emergency on Friday after fast-moving wildfires forced around 10,000 people to evacuate in the Madrid region, while major fires in southwestern France drove tens of thousands from their homes. "We are experiencing a dramatic situation, not just in several Spanish regions but also in neighboring countries," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X. "My solidarity with all the people who have been affected and been forced to leave their homes," he added. The national emergency allows Spain's Interior Ministry to take charge of coordinating firefighting efforts as several regions battle wildfires intensified by a severe heatwave. Authorities also stepped in to help tackle another major blaze in the central province of Ávila. The Madrid regional government said about 10,000 residents were evacuated from several villages after multiple fires spread out of control late Thursday. "In my 60 years, I have never seen anything like this in my village," Burgohondo Mayor Francisco Martínez told Spain's public broadcaster TVE. "I have never seen fires of this size." Spain's military emergency units, national firefighting teams and water-dropping aircraft have been deployed to support local firefighters. An estimated 1,300 square kilometres of land have burned in Spain so far this year—more than four times the area destroyed during the same period in 2025. Among this year's blazes is Spain's second-largest wildfire on record, which burned around 320 square kilometres in Guadalajara province, north of Madrid. Earlier this month, 13 people died in a wildfire in southern Spain, the country's deadliest in recent memory. Sánchez on Wednesday called for political parties to work together on climate change, saying stronger action is needed to prepare for increasingly severe wildfire seasons. Temperatures are expected to exceed 39 degrees Celsius in parts of Spain, with highs of up to 44 degrees forecast in the southeastern province of Almeria. Tens of thousands evacuated in FranceIn southwestern France, authorities ordered further evacuations on Friday as wildfires continued to spread near the popular Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast. Around 40,000 people have fled their homes over the past two days as the fires, which started on Wednesday, burned more than 87 square kilometres. Some residents had to escape by boat. France has requested assistance through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism. President Emmanuel Macron said additional firefighting support would soon arrive, including two Canadair aircraft from Croatia, two Air Tractor planes from Portugal and Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Southern Europe has experienced several major wildfires this summer as extreme heat continues to affect the region. According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising about twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s. Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves and dry conditions more frequent and severe, increasing the risk of destructive wildfires, particularly across southern and southeastern Europe.

President Donald Trump has announced new double-digit tariffs on imports from dozens of US trading partners as temporary worldwide tariffs introduced earlier this year expired on Friday. The new tariffs, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, will apply to imports from 60 trading partners that account for about 99% of US imports. The Trump administration said the countries had failed to adequately enforce bans on goods produced through forced labour. "The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century and enforces it strictly. It is time for our trading partners to do the same," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said. The tariffs replace the temporary 10% global import duties that expired at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Those temporary tariffs had been introduced after the US Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump did not have the authority to impose his earlier broad tariffs under emergency powers. To introduce the new measures, the administration is using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs on countries found to have unfair or unreasonable trade practices. Trump also relied on the same law during his first term to impose tariffs on Chinese goods. The administration is also investigating whether 16 countries have overproduced goods in ways that hurt US manufacturers. Those countries account for about 70% of US imports, and additional tariffs could follow once the investigation is completed. Trump argues that higher tariffs will help revive US manufacturing. Last year, he reversed decades of US policy supporting lower tariffs and freer trade by imposing import duties on goods from nearly every country, citing the country's long-running trade deficit as a national emergency. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the emergency law used for those tariffs did not authorize such measures, forcing the government to refund importers that had already paid the duties. The administration first proposed the new forced labour-related tariffs last month. Since then, some countries have strengthened enforcement measures and qualified for lower tariff rates, according to a senior administration official. For example, India's tariff rate was initially set at 12.5% but has been reduced to 10% after it improved enforcement against forced labour imports, the official said. Some products, including oil, natural gas and fertilizer, are exempt from the new tariffs. Goods that qualify for duty-free treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are also excluded. The move drew criticism from some lawmakers and trading partners. Representative Richard Neal, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, accused the administration of using forced labour as an excuse for its tariff policy. "Forced labour is a serious issue that deserves strong enforcement, not to be used as a justification for questionable tariff policies," he said. Brazil, which faces a 12.5% tariff, called the decision "arbitrary and unjustified" and said it would invoke its reciprocity law, which could lead to retaliatory tariffs on US goods. The Brazilian government also plans to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization. Chile, which also faces a 12.5% tariff, said it has strong labour protections and argued that the US decision was not supported by the evidence presented during the investigation. Under US law, tariffs are paid by American companies importing foreign goods. Those businesses often pass the extra costs on to consumers through higher prices, raising concerns that the new measures could increase living costs ahead of the November midterm elections. Human rights groups said they remain cautious about the administration's motives but acknowledged that import restrictions could help combat forced labour. The International Labour Organization estimates that around 27.6 million people worldwide were trapped in forced labour in 2021. Martina Vandenberg, founder of The Human Trafficking Legal Center, said import bans can be an effective tool against forced labour but warned they should be introduced gradually to give countries time to strengthen enforcement. "Our concern is that import bans may exist only on paper without proper enforcement," she said. Canada said the latest US action was expected. Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada shares Washington's goal of preventing goods made through forced labour from entering supply chains and would continue discussions with the United States on the issue. Experts also noted that the threat of new tariffs has already prompted some countries, including India, to strengthen their policies against forced labour, while new European Union rules due next year are expected to increase pressure on global supply chains.

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Friday, but protesters said their nationwide campaign over alleged exam paper leaks and education reforms will continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Wangchuk's fast became a symbol of the "Cockroach" protest movement, which began more than a month ago after allegations of leaks in some of India's most competitive entrance examinations. The movement has since grown beyond education issues, attracting students, professionals, families and activists who are also protesting unemployment, government accountability and limited economic opportunities. The demonstrations have become one of the largest and longest-running protest movements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in recent years. Thousands of protesters have continued to take to the streets despite police using tear gas and batons earlier this week to stop marchers trying to reach Parliament. In a post on X, Wangchuk said he ended his fast after meeting two federal ministers. He said the decision followed appeals from dozens of lawmakers and lengthy discussions, as well as concerns about possible violence, but did not provide further details. Despite Wangchuk ending his protest, organisers said demonstrations would continue until the education minister steps down. Protest groups also called for nationwide demonstrations on Friday to show support for students who were injured when police dispersed thousands of marchers heading to Parliament on Monday. "We won't let Sonam sir's sacrifice go in vain," said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, which has helped lead the movement. The group's name refers to a comment by India's chief justice comparing some unemployed young people to cockroaches. The protests continued a day after Modi addressed the issue publicly for the first time. He announced that fast-track courts would handle cases involving exam paper leaks and said his government would introduce legislation in Parliament to crack down on such crimes. However, protesters said the announcements did not meet their key demands, including greater government accountability, reforms to the examination system and compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the alleged paper leaks. Fabeha Sayyed, a 23-year-old protester, said Modi's statement showed the government was finally paying attention to the issue, but questioned why the education minister had not been asked to resign. "If he is truly concerned about the students and the families who lost loved ones, asking one minister to resign should not be difficult," she said.

A replica of the House of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines is drawing Catholic devotees, offering many believers a place of prayer and comfort without having to travel to Turkey. The original House of the Virgin Mary is located in Ephesus, Turkey, where Catholic tradition says Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years. Now, a carefully built replica in Alfonso town, about 70 kilometres south of Manila, is welcoming pilgrims from across the Philippines, Asia's largest Catholic nation. "The idea began as a place of refuge," said Father Dennis Paez, who led the project. "This is a place where no questions are asked." The shrine opened in 2024 and has already hosted several Catholic pilgrimages, including celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel earlier this month. The 67-square-metre building closely matches the original in Turkey, including its size, shape and stone design. According to Catholic tradition, Mary lived in the house after the crucifixion of Jesus until her assumption into heaven. It is believed that the apostle John brought her there to protect her from persecution in Jerusalem. Father Paez said the replica took around 10 months to build. People from different religious backgrounds worked together on the project, something he described as a symbol of the Virgin Mary bringing everyone together. He said the shrine welcomes everyone without judgment. "There is no therapy here. The therapist is our Mother," said Paez, who is also a psychologist working with young people. Deep devotion to Mary in the PhilippinesThe Philippines has a population of about 113 million people, with nearly 80% identifying as Catholic. Devotion to the Virgin Mary is deeply rooted in Filipino religious life. She is widely known as the Blessed Mother, and processions in her honour are held throughout the country. "We are a long-suffering people," Paez said. "Our greatest wealth is our faith, and much of that faith is inspired by the Blessed Mother." Religious historian Michael Delos Reyes said devotion to Mary dates back to the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the 16th century. Over time, many Filipinos have turned to her during times of national hardship. Some believers credit Mary's intercession during the 1986 People Power Revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos' rule. Others sought hope in her after Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the country in 2013. A symbol of comfort and hopeThe phrase "To Jesus through Mary" reflects Mary's important role in Filipino Catholic life. Deirdre de la Cruz, a history and Southeast Asian studies professor at the University of Michigan, said many Filipinos feel a strong connection with Mary because of her caring and motherly image. She noted that images of the Virgin Mary and rosaries are commonly seen in homes, vehicles, churches and public spaces across the country. "As someone who is known to provide comfort, Mary is a familiar figure whom people turn to during difficult times," she said. Visitor Daphne Oseña Paez said her devotion to Mary became much stronger as an adult. A visit to Mexico to see the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a difficult pregnancy deepened her faith. "We don't pray to Mary herself, but Mary intercedes for us," she said. "Whenever I faced hardships, I found comfort in her love as a mother." Bringing a holy place closer to homeInside the replica, donated images of the Virgin Mary line the walls. At its centre stands a statue based on the one in Turkey, along with a relic believed to be from Mary's veil. Many of the Marian images were donated by art collector and cultural advocate Maritess Pineda, who said she had long hoped to find a permanent home for her collection. Rupert Suarez, who had previously visited the original shrine in Turkey with his wife, also joined the project after learning about plans to build the replica. "I usually pray to the Mother," Suarez said. "It is truly a blessing that we now have this replica here." Although the shrine has received little publicity since opening, Father Paez said pilgrims continue to arrive. "I don't think I am the one bringing them," he said. "It is the Blessed Mother inviting them to come."

Canada is set to mark the opening of a major new bridge linking the country with the United States, even as trade tensions with President Donald Trump cast a shadow over the celebrations. Officials gathered in Windsor, Ontario, on Friday ahead of the official opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge to traffic on Monday. The bridge, which crosses the Detroit River, is expected to boost trade between the two countries and provide travelers with an additional border crossing. The event was originally planned as a joint ceremony on the bridge with officials from both Canada and the United States. However, Canada decided against the joint celebration after Trump unexpectedly announced this week a 50% tariff on Canadian goods entering the US. "It's regretful that we're at this point in time with our trade relationship. We're hopeful for better days ahead," Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told Detroit television station WXYZ. The United States is Canada's largest trading partner, with more than 70% of Canadian exports going south of the border. Detroit is also the busiest crossing for commercial truck traffic between the two countries, according to the US Department of Transportation. The new bridge is expected to increase competition by providing an alternative to the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which has been the only crossing for large commercial trucks between Detroit and Windsor for nearly 100 years. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said she had initially been invited to a joint Canada-US ceremony before the plans changed. Calling the bridge important for the region, Sheffield said it would play a vital role in supporting the local economy, while avoiding comments on whether it had become part of the political tensions between the two countries. The bridge is named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, who starred for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings and died in 2016. Construction began in 2018 and took several years to complete, partly due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The six-lane bridge stretches about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) across the Detroit River and rises 46 metres (151 feet) above the water at its highest point. Pedestrians and cyclists carrying proper identification will be allowed to cross free of charge in the coming weeks. Canada financed the project at an estimated cost of US$6.4 billion. Under a recent agreement, Canada will share part of the bridge's toll revenue with the US government for 15 years. Michigan will also receive a share of the toll income, but only after Canada recovers its construction costs, a process expected to take several decades.

Four people were killed and five others injured in a U.S. missile attack near the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Friday. Earlier Friday, multiple explosions were heard in Ahvaz, Fars News Agency reported. The U.S. military announced the 13th night of strikes Thursday against Iran as clashes escalate over shipping routes. The attacks came after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the Iran war as international oil topped $100 a barrel, reports AP. A short time later, Iranian state media reported explosions along the strait in Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, where two people were reportedly injured, as well as to the northwest near Andimeshk, Omidiyeh and Firuzabad.

Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are set to decide Friday whether to permanently remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in an unprecedented vote that comes amid sexual misconduct allegations and mounting political pressure on the global tribunal. Diplomats representing the court's 125 member states gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York for a special session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC's governing body, to determine Khan's future. The British lawyer has denied allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female aide, despite findings by the court's oversight body that he committed serious misconduct and breached his official duties. Khan was formally suspended from his duties in June after the ICC oversight committee concluded that he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and later attempted to discourage her from pursuing the allegations. He has rejected those findings. A majority vote of member states is required to remove him permanently from office. Khan is not attending the closed-door meeting because US sanctions imposed by the Trump administration over the ICC's investigation into Israeli officials prevent him from entering the United States. His legal team has criticized the decision to proceed in his absence, arguing that he should have the opportunity to defend himself before such a significant disciplinary decision is made. Khan has also been suspended from practising law in the United Kingdom while the British Bar Standards Board conducts its own investigation into the allegations. The Netherlands, which hosts the ICC in The Hague, has publicly announced that it will vote in favour of Khan's removal. No other member state has disclosed its position ahead of the secret ballot. The disciplinary proceedings have unfolded alongside the ICC's investigation into the war in Gaza, a case that has drawn sharp criticism from several governments. In 2024, the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza, prompting sanctions by the United States against Khan and other ICC officials. The controversy has exposed divisions within the court. Earlier this year, a group of ICC staff expressed concern over Khan's possible return, saying his leadership had been significantly weakened. Meanwhile, several Palestinian organisations accused the court's oversight body of political interference in the disciplinary process. If Khan is removed, ICC member states will begin the process of selecting a new chief prosecutor. Until then, the prosecutor's office will continue to be led by Khan's two deputies.

More than 10,000 people were evacuated overnight after a fast-moving wildfire spread near the popular Atlantic coastal town of Lège-Cap-Ferret in southwestern France, authorities said Thursday. The fire has burned more than 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of land, although no injuries have been reported so far. The Gironde prefecture said around 500 firefighters are battling the blaze, but warned that weather conditions remain unfavourable, making it difficult to bring the fire under control. As a safety measure, authorities evacuated more than 10,000 people, including many tourists staying at eight holiday camps and campgrounds in the area southwest of Bordeaux. More than 1,000 residents living near forested areas were also asked to leave their homes. Authorities have opened emergency shelters in nine municipalities, where more than 2,500 evacuees have taken refuge. France and several other southern European countries have experienced a series of major wildfires this summer, driven by prolonged heatwaves and dry weather. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat and drought, creating conditions that make wildfires more likely and more destructive. France has been hit by repeated heatwaves since before the start of summer, leaving forests and vegetation extremely dry and vulnerable to fire. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 12,500 wildfires have broken out across the country since the beginning of the year, burning nearly 44,000 hectares of land.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said early Thursday they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while the United States carried out a 12th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, further escalating tensions in the region. The latest developments have raised fears of a wider conflict that could further disrupt global shipping and energy supplies, with no signs of progress in diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the overnight strikes were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels in regional waters as Washington seeks to restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump warned that the US would target one Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. "From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz... the United States will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant," Trump wrote on social media. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a regional summit in the Philippines, said Iran had expressed interest in negotiations but questioned its willingness to honour any agreement. "The problem is making a deal with people who don't keep their commitments," Rubio said. Houthis claim tanker attacksThe Houthi-run SABA news agency said the rebels targeted the Saudi-linked oil tankers Encelia and Layla in the Red Sea, claiming both vessels caught fire. If confirmed, the attacks would be the Houthis' first reported strike on commercial ships since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week. The group said the move was in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's blockade of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa's international airport. Bab el-Mandeb is one of the world's busiest maritime routes, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of global trade, including roughly one-quarter of the world's container shipping, passes through the waterway. A senior Houthi official said the blockade would continue until Saudi Arabia lifted its restrictions on Yemen. Saudi Arabia's state news agency confirmed that the tanker Encelia was attacked and caught fire while sailing in the Red Sea, but said there were no casualties. It did not mention the Layla. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile southwest of Saudi Arabia's Al Shuqaiq area. No casualties were reported. Rubio urged the Houthis to avoid further escalation, saying continued attacks would only worsen the situation. Strait of Hormuz tensions continueThe US air campaign comes as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. The waterway, through which about one-fifth of globally traded oil and gas normally passes, has been severely disrupted by the conflict. Iran says it has the right to regulate shipping through the strait and has targeted vessels using routes protected by US forces. In response, Washington has tightened its blockade on Iranian ports and expanded military operations across Iran. Trump also indicated this week that US forces could target an Iranian nuclear facility currently under construction. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the US threats, saying conditions in the Strait of Hormuz would not return to how they were before the conflict. Overnight strikes and regional concernsIranian state media reported that US missiles hit areas near Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk in western Iran overnight. Two people were reportedly killed in a strike near the Iraqi border town of Shalamcheh. Iran has responded to US attacks by targeting energy facilities and desalination plants in neighbouring Gulf countries. Kuwait's military said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would respond forcefully to any further attacks. "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will receive a strong and decisive response," he wrote on X. Diplomatic efforts remain stalledIranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently held talks in Pakistan, which has been trying to mediate between the parties, but there has been little indication of any diplomatic breakthrough. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attacks on the Saudi oil tankers. Meanwhile, Iran's Interior Ministry said diplomatic contacts were continuing despite the ongoing fighting. An Arab diplomat, speaking anonymously, said Gulf countries were becoming increasingly pessimistic about the chances of reducing tensions and remained deeply concerned about the latest escalation in the region.