United News of Bangladesh

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to defend global free trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Friday, where he took center stage after U.S. President Donald Trump skipped the meeting. The annual regional forum, held this year in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, opened a day after Trump departed the country. His earlier meeting with Xi had produced agreements aimed at easing the trade tensions that have rattled the global economy. Although the two leaders’ talks dominated attention, Trump’s absence from APEC underscored his continued rejection of large multilateral gatherings. Critics warn that this could further damage America’s reputation in a forum representing almost 40% of the global population and more than half of world trade. Xi Calls for Unity and Open Trade Addressing APEC’s opening session, Xi urged member nations to strengthen cooperation amid global uncertainty. “The more turbulent the times, the more we must work together,” he said, noting that the world faces “rapid changes and increasing volatility.” He emphasized the importance of stable supply chains, countering U.S. efforts to separate from China economically. Xi also called for deeper collaboration in green industries and clean energy. Read more: Xi, Carney meet in South Korea to rebuild strained China-Canada ties In a written message to the APEC CEO summit, Xi reaffirmed that China remains open to investment and committed to the multilateral trading system. “Those who establish a presence in the Chinese market will seize key opportunities in global competition,” he wrote. “Investing in China means investing in the future.” Representing Trump, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington’s efforts to rebalance trade were aimed at ensuring “fair and reciprocal” terms, and at creating more resilient production networks that reduce dependence on vulnerable sectors. Xi’s Diplomatic Meetings The summit marked Xi’s first visit to South Korea in 11 years. On the sidelines, he met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. During talks with Takaichi, Xi called for a “constructive and stable relationship for a new era,” while Takaichi expressed hopes of addressing bilateral issues and building a stronger personal rapport with Xi. Xi is also expected to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday, with discussions likely to include North Korea’s nuclear program. APEC’s Growing Challenges Founded in 1989 to promote free and open trade across the Asia-Pacific, APEC now faces mounting challenges, including U.S.-China rivalry, supply chain disruptions, aging populations, and the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. Under Trump, Washington has shifted from cooperation to competition with Beijing, with tariff hikes and an “America First” agenda unsettling global markets and challenging decades of globalization. Read more: WHO: Militia Assault on Darfur hospital came in multiple waves Opening the summit, host President Lee urged members to focus on solidarity and shared prosperity. “We may not always stand on the same side, but we can unite around our common goal of mutual growth,” he said. Canada’s Carney echoed that sentiment, announcing plans to double his country’s non-U.S. exports within a decade, citing “one of the most profound global shifts since the fall of the Berlin Wall.” Despite the positive tone after Trump and Xi’s meeting, experts warn that tensions could flare again as both nations vie for dominance in manufacturing and emerging technologies like AI. “Bringing the two largest economies together to ease tariff and export disputes helped avert the worst outcomes for global trade,” said Leif-Eric Easley, professor at Ewha Womans University. “But APEC should be more than a platform for trade truces — it must advance cooperation on sustainable and digital trade.” South Korea Seeks Consensus As host, South Korea is pushing for all 21 member economies to adopt a joint statement — a goal that eluded APEC in 2018 due to U.S.-China friction. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun recently said that while a strong pro–free trade statement may be difficult, Seoul hopes for a broader declaration highlighting regional peace and prosperity. This year’s agenda also prioritizes collaboration on artificial intelligence and demographic challenges. Read more: Have deep relations with US, extensive economic ties with China: Touhid Hossain

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a "complete and total" ceasefire, expected to take effect within hours. His announcement on Monday followed an Iranian missile strike targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts American forces. In a social media post, Trump stated, "Assuming all goes as planned — and it will — I want to commend both Israel and Iran for their Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence in ending what should be called ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’" He added, “This is a war that could have lasted for years and devastated the entire Middle East. But it hasn’t — and it never will. God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!” However, neither Iran nor Israel has officially confirmed the ceasefire. According to Trump, Iran would halt its attacks on Israel several hours before Israel is expected to end its military operations. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi pointed out that more than an hour after Trump’s declaration, there was still no formal confirmation. “Just minutes ago, explosions were heard due to air defense systems being activated here in the capital,” he reported, suggesting ongoing Israeli airstrikes that could trigger further Iranian retaliation. Iran launches missiles at US military base in Qatar Middle East analyst Omar Rahman told Al Jazeera that key details were missing from Trump’s message, including whether any negotiations would follow the ceasefire. He accused Trump of previously misleading statements supporting Israel and noted that the U.S. president had spoken about diplomacy just hours before Israel's initial attack on Iran. Last week, Trump mentioned he would decide within two weeks whether to join the war, but ended up authorizing strikes on Iran just two days later. Rahman also warned that if Israel carries out a major operation — including the potential assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — it could collapse the ceasefire entirely. “Would that end the war? Of course not,” he said. Israel launched a large-scale offensive on Iran in the early hours of June 13, claiming it was a “preemptive” move to target Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. The unprovoked assault killed hundreds, including several high-ranking Iranian generals. Iran condemned the attack as a violation of the UN Charter and responded with a barrage of missiles that caused extensive damage within Israel. On Saturday, Trump authorized U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. In response, Iran fired missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Trump brushed off the retaliation, calling it “weak” and indicating that the U.S. would not respond militarily. Qatar, Saudi condemn Iran’s attack Liqaa Maki of the Al Jazeera Media Institute suggested that the U.S. might refrain from counterattacks unless its forces suffer casualties. He emphasized that the U.S. should now convert its military success into a diplomatic agreement. Maki also noted that despite setbacks, Iran still possesses enriched uranium and the technical expertise to rebuild its nuclear program. “In two to three years, Iran could resume its nuclear activities without inspections and possibly develop a bomb undetected,” he warned. The extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains uncertain. While Iran maintains that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, Israel is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal. Source: Al Jazeera  About 250 Americans have been evacuated from Israel, official says The U.S. has evacuated some 250 American citizens and their immediate family members from Israel by government, military and charter flights that began over the weekend, a State Department official says. Since June 21, the official says the U.S. has organized seven flights, most of which have to gone to Athens, Greece, but also to Rome, Italy, and Larnaca, Cyprus. Other Americans, including nonessential embassy staff and their families, have left via land to Jordan and Egypt, while others have departed Israel by ship. The official did not have statistics for those departures, which do not necessarily involve U.S. government assistance. There are roughly 700,000 American citizens, most of them dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, believed to be in Israel. Source: AP 

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