United News of Bangladesh

The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), removing itself as one of the UN agency’s largest donors and a key participant in global health initiatives. The decision stems from an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump a year ago, after he repeatedly criticised the WHO for being overly “China-centric” during the Covid-19 pandemic. The US Department of Health and Human Services said the withdrawal was due to the WHO’s alleged mishandling of the pandemic, its inability to implement meaningful reforms, and political influence from certain member states. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus rejected the US claims, saying the withdrawal is a “loss for both the United States and the world.” The organisation highlighted its global contributions, including efforts to eradicate polio, combat HIV and AIDS, reduce maternal mortality, and enforce its international treaty on tobacco control. Following the pandemic, WHO member states worked on an international pandemic treaty to ensure fair sharing of vaccines and treatments and strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks. The treaty, finalised in April 2025, was agreed upon by all member states except the US. Traditionally, the United States has been one of the largest financial contributors to the WHO, but Washington did not pay its membership fees for 2024 and 2025, causing significant job losses within the organisation. While WHO lawyers maintain that the US is obliged to pay the arrears—estimated at $260 million—Washington has refused, stating there is no reason to do so. As part of the withdrawal, all US government funding to the WHO has been terminated, US personnel and contractors recalled from Geneva headquarters and offices worldwide, and hundreds of engagements with the agency have been suspended or discontinued. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint statement that the WHO “tarnished and trashed everything that America has done for it” and “abandoned its core mission,” acting against US interests. They added that future US engagement with the WHO will be limited strictly to safeguard the health and safety of Americans. Officials noted that the US will continue disease surveillance and pathogen-sharing programs through bilateral relationships with other countries, but they did not specify which countries or partnerships have been established so far. In response to questions about US participation in global health initiatives like polio and HIV programmes, officials said partnerships would continue through NGOs and faith-based groups, though no specific arrangements have been disclosed. US engagement in global flu vaccine development and information-sharing remains uncertain. After Trump signed the withdrawal order at the start of his second term, the WHO expressed hope that the US would reconsider, stating that “the WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats.” The agency said reconsideration would serve the “health and well-being of millions worldwide.” The WHO confirmed on Friday that the US withdrawal would be discussed during its upcoming board meeting scheduled from February 2-7. Its secretariat said it will act according to the guidance provided by its governing bodies. The US exit could remove nearly one-fifth of the WHO’s budget. The defunding and withdrawal come amid criticism of pandemic responses worldwide, including in highly developed countries like the US and the UK, where delays in imposing lockdowns and mask mandates contributed to rapid virus spread. Drew Altman, former US public health official, said the federal government’s inconsistent Covid-19 guidance, politicisation of policy, and failure to implement nationwide preventive measures contributed to one of the highest death rates in the world. A 2020 study in the British Medical Journal accused the Trump administration of failing to provide national guidance and allowing state-level responses to diverge along political lines. Another research paper published in the UN National Library of Medicine labelled the US federal response as “slow and mismanaged.” The US withdrawal marks a significant moment for global health governance, highlighting tensions between national interests and multilateral cooperation in pandemic preparedness and response.   With inputs from BBC

US President Donald Trump’s claim that Nato troops stayed “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan has drawn strong criticism from UK politicians and veterans’ families. Trump made the remarks during a Fox News interview on Thursday. He said he was “not sure” Nato would support the US if needed and suggested that allied troops in Afghanistan stayed behind the front lines. UK Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Kinnock called the comments “deeply disappointing” and “plainly wrong.” He said British and other Nato troops had always stood alongside US forces and many had lost their lives in American-led missions. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described Trump’s remarks as “flat-out nonsense.” Labour MP Emily Thornberry called them “an absolute insult” to British service personnel. Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said Trump, who avoided military service five times, had no right to question the sacrifices of 457 British troops killed in Afghanistan. The UK joined the US in Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, invoking Nato’s collective security clause. Thousands of British soldiers served there over the next two decades. Stephen Kinnock said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer would convey the country’s position to Trump, highlighting the service and sacrifices of the armed forces.   With inputs from BBC

Nuclear weapons testing between 1945 and 2017 has affected everyone on Earth and is linked to at least four million premature deaths from cancer and other diseases, according to a new report by Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA). The report said more than 2,400 nuclear devices were detonated in tests worldwide over the period, and the health and environmental impacts are still being felt in many communities today. Of the nine nuclear-armed states, only North Korea has conducted nuclear tests since the 1990s, the report noted. The 304-page report said a long-running culture of secrecy, limited international engagement and lack of data have left many affected people seeking answers and support. NPA chief Raymond Johansen said past nuclear testing “continues to kill today” and urged stronger resolve to prevent future testing or use of nuclear weapons. The issue has drawn renewed attention after US President Donald Trump suggested last November that Washington could resume nuclear testing, while accusing Russia and China of already doing so, a claim they rejected, according to the report. The report said people living near test sites have faced higher illness rates, congenital anomalies and long-term trauma. It also said radioactive fallout from atmospheric testing spread widely, leaving radioactive isotopes in people’s bodies across generations. It alleged that some governments continue to withhold key information, including studies and locations of radioactive waste, and said compensation schemes have often fallen short of victims’ needs.   With inputs from NDTV

Artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT are increasingly being used not only for information and advice, but also for emotional support and companionship, raising new questions about what machines can teach humans about listening better. Anna, a Ukrainian living in London, says she regularly uses the premium version of ChatGPT because of its ability to listen without interrupting or judging her. While she knows it is only a machine, she says its patient and consistent responses help her reflect on her thoughts and emotions. “I can rely on it to understand my issues and communicate with me in a way that suits me,” she said, asking to remain anonymous. After a recent breakup, Anna said the chatbot’s non-judgmental presence allowed her to explore her mixed feelings in a way her friends and family could not. Her experience reflects a growing trend. Research cited by Harvard Business Review shows that in 2025, therapy and companionship became the most common use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Other studies suggest that people often rate AI-generated responses as more compassionate and understanding than those written by humans, including trained crisis hotline workers. Researchers say this does not mean AI is genuinely empathetic, but rather that many people rarely experience truly non-judgmental and uninterrupted listening in everyday life. Experiments have found that people often feel more hopeful and less distressed after interacting with AI-generated responses compared to human ones. Large language models are designed to recognise emotions, reflect them back and offer supportive language. They do not interrupt, do not become impatient and do not try to dominate conversations. This creates a sense of psychological safety for users, allowing them to share difficult thoughts more freely. Experts say there are several lessons humans can learn from AI about listening, including giving uninterrupted attention, acknowledging emotions, avoiding quick judgments and resisting the urge to immediately offer solutions. Psychologists also note that people often turn conversations back to themselves by sharing similar personal stories, which can shift attention away from the speaker. AI systems, having no personal experiences, do not fall into this habit. However, researchers warn against over-reliance on AI for emotional support. While chatbots can simulate empathy, they do not possess genuine care or understanding. There are also concerns about vulnerable people forming emotional dependence on AI or being exposed to harmful advice. Michael Inzlicht, a psychologist at the University of Toronto, cautioned that AI companies could potentially manipulate users and that excessive reliance on chatbots could weaken real human connections. Despite these risks, experts say AI can still serve as a useful tool for inspiring better listening habits and greater compassion among people. “There is something uniquely meaningful about a human choosing to be present and listen,” researchers say, adding that while AI may help people feel heard, it cannot replace the depth of real human connection.   With inputs from BBC

The death toll from coordinated attacks by suspected gang members on Guatemalan police rose to nine on Monday, prompting President Bernardo Arévalo to impose a 30-day state of emergency that curtails several civil rights and expands security powers. National Civil Police Director David Custodio Boteo said a ninth officer died early Monday from injuries sustained in the attacks, while several others remain in critical condition. Some officers also suffered amputations. The violence erupted over the weekend after inmates seized control of three prisons in apparently coordinated riots, taking 43 guards hostage. Authorities said the gangs were demanding privileges for their members and leaders. Shortly after police regained control of one prison on Sunday morning, suspected gang members launched a wave of attacks against police across the capital. On Monday, police honored the fallen officers in a ceremony at the Interior Ministry, where flag-draped coffins were displayed. President Arévalo said the nation would not forget the sacrifice of the officers who died in the line of duty. The government gazette published the emergency decree on Monday, citing “coordinated actions by self-named maras or gangs against state security forces, including armed attacks against civilian authorities.” Under the emergency measures, authorities have limited freedom of movement and demonstrations. Police are also allowed to detain suspected gang members without a judicial order and may restrict or search vehicles in designated areas. The unicameral Congress approved the state of emergency with minor changes on Monday night by a vote of 149 to 1, with 10 lawmakers absent or on approved leave. The decree, however, took effect on Sunday. Traffic in Guatemala City was lighter than usual on Monday as residents stayed indoors amid heightened security. Schools were suspended nationwide as a precaution. The US Embassy in Guatemala condemned the attacks on police and reaffirmed its support for Guatemala’s security forces. It had earlier instructed US government personnel to shelter in place on Sunday before later lifting the order and advising continued caution. In October, Guatemala’s Congress amended the law to designate members of the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs as terrorists, increasing prison sentences for gang-related crimes. The United States also designated the two groups as foreign terrorist organizations last year.

Hong Kong will host the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly later this year, marking the first time the city serves as the venue and the third time the event is held in China. The gathering will bring police chiefs and ministers from INTERPOL’s 196 member countries together to discuss global security challenges and strengthen international cooperation. Vice Minister of Public Security of China, Xu Datong, recalled China’s previous hosting of the assembly in Beijing in 1995 and 2017, noting the significance of Hong Kong’s selection. At the closing ceremony of the 93rd General Assembly in Morocco last November, Xu, alongside Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chow Yat-ming, received the INTERPOL flag, officially designating Hong Kong as the next host city. Commissioner Chow said the decision reflects China’s trust in both Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), highlighting the city’s strategic role as a “super connector” in international policing. Chow expressed pride in hosting the event, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrancy, friendly spirit, and the effectiveness of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. Hong Kong has long been active within INTERPOL. The HKPF contributes expertise in major crimes, cybercrime, and financial crime, with officers on secondment at INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon and the Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore. The force is expanding ties with overseas law enforcement, particularly within ASEAN and Belt and Road Initiative countries, to combat emerging transnational crimes. Platforms like FRONTIER+ now connect 13 jurisdictions for real-time intelligence sharing and cross-border fund interception. In November 2025, the HKPF hosted its first Ethics Governance Roundtable with INTERPOL, ICAC, and international representatives, discussing ethics and financial risk management. Chow said preparations for the 2026 General Assembly are well underway, with close coordination among HKPF, INTERPOL, and China’s National Central Bureau to ensure a smooth event. The HKPF aims to offer delegates a memorable experience, reflecting Hong Kong’s hospitality, rich culture, and culinary offerings.

A Russian missile hit a front-line region in Ukraine on Saturday, killing a child and injuring another, a Ukrainian official said as uncertainty remains as to whether Kyiv diplomats will attend a new round of peace talks proposed by Moscow for early next week in Istanbul.  More than 200 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian prisons Russian troops launched some 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine overnight and into Saturday, the Ukrainian air force said. Three of the missiles and 42 drones were destroyed by air defenses, while another 30 drones failed to reach their targets without causing damage, it said. A 9-old girl was killed in a strike on the front-line village of Dolynka in the Zaporizhzhia region, and a 16-year-old was injured, Zaporizhzhia’s Gov. Ivan Fedorov said. “One house was destroyed. The shockwave from the blast also damaged several other houses, cars, and outbuildings,” Fedorov wrote on Telegram. Moscow did not comment on the latest attack. Meanwhile, 14 people were injured after Ukrainian drones struck apartment buildings on Saturday in the Russian town of Rylsk and the village of Artakovo in the western Kursk region, local acting Gov. Alexander Khinshtein said. Four children were among those injured in the two attacks, which also sparked several fires, he said. On Friday, Andrii Yermak, a top adviser to Ukraine's president said Kyiv was ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday but that the Kremlin should provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war, before the two delegations sit down to negotiate. Speaking late Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was “undermining diplomacy” by withholding the document. Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds more prisoners hours after a massive attack on Kyiv “For some reason, the Russians are concealing this document. This is an absolutely bizarre position. There is no clarity about the format,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. Moscow previously said it would share its memorandum during the talks.

Dozens of countries joined China on Friday in establishing an international mediation-based dispute resolution group. Representatives of more than 30 other countries, from Pakistan and Indonesia to Belarus and Cuba, signed the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong to become founding members of the global organization, following Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Binzhou celebrates international Friendship Cities Day with focus on trade and development The support of developing countries signaled Beijing's rising influence in the global south amid heightened geopolitical tensions, partly exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. At a ceremony, Wang said China has long advocated for handling differences with a spirit of mutual understanding and consensus-building through dialogue, while aiming to provide “Chinese wisdom” for resolving conflicts between nations. “The establishment of the International Organization for Mediation helps to move beyond the zero-sum mindset of ‘you lose and I win,’” he said. The body, headquartered in Hong Kong, aims to help promote the amicable resolution of international disputes and build more harmonious global relations, he said. Beijing has touted the organization as the world's first intergovernmental legal organization for resolving disputes through mediation, saying it will be an important mechanism in safeguarding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It also positioned Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services center in Asia. Wang said the city's rule of law is highly developed, with the advantages of both common law and mainland Chinese law systems, asserting that it possesses uniquely favorable conditions for international mediation. Hong Kong leader John Lee said the organization could begin its work as early as the end of this year. The ceremony was attended by representatives from some 50 other countries and about 20 organizations, including the United Nations. Yueming Yan, a law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the new organization is a complementary mechanism to existing institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague. “While the ICJ and PCA focus on adjudication and arbitration, IOMed introduces a structured, institutionalized form of alternative dispute resolution — namely, mediation — on a global scale,” she said. Although many details about the new body are yet to be clarified, it could open the door for greater synergy between formal litigation or arbitration and more flexible methods like mediation, she said. Shahla Ali, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the International Organization for Mediation would have the capacity to mediate disputes between states, between a state and a national of another state, or in international commercial disputes. Japan to use radioactive soil from Fukushima on flowerbeds at prime minister's office “Conventions can provide opportunities to experiment with new approaches," she said, noting rising interest in mediation globally as a means to resolve investor-state disputes.

Dhaka continued to occupy the top spot in the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality for the third consecutive day this morning (March 4, 2023). With an air quality index (AQI) score of 288 at 9:30 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked first in the list of cities with the worst air quality. An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered "unhealthy," 201 and 300 "very unhealthy," and 301 to 400 is considered "hazardous," posing serious health risks to residents. India’s Mumbai, China’s Beijing and Thailand’s Chiang Mai occupied the second, third and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 203, 198 and 192, respectively. Read more: Dhaka’s air continues to be most polluted in the world this morning In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person's chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.  

 A wrecked Russian tank put on display in Berlin, a bloody cake with a skull on top of it left in a Belgrade street and Ukraine’s yellow-and-blue flag held aloft in the sizzling Bangkok sun were among the memorials, stunts and ceremonies held across the world Friday to mark the anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Commemorations of a grim year for Ukraine spread across the globe, drawing people to peace rallies and other events in the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Latin America. A rusting T-72 tank was placed outside the prominent Russian Embassy building on the German capital’s Unter den Linden boulevard. The tank was struck in the Kyiv region in the early stages of the war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. It was taken to Berlin by a private group, which said that the Ukrainian defense ministry’s Military History Museum loaned it. Destroyed Russian armor litters parts of Ukraine after months of battlefield setbacks for the Kremlin’s forces. “The whole world should see that there are many people in Germany who stand behind Ukraine, so that’s why we’re putting the Russians’ scrap tank in front of their door,” said Wieland Giebel of the Berlin Story group, who was one of the exhibit’s organizers. In Serbia, whose government has maintained friendly relations with Russia and has refused to join Western sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its invasion, police moved in to stop a group of anti-war activists from reaching the Russian Embassy in the capital, Belgrade. The activists wanted to hand over a demand for Russian President Vladimir Putin to be put on trial for genocide in Ukraine. They left a cake, covered with red icing representing blood and with a skull on top of it, on the pavement near the embassy. Read more: What is China’s peace proposal for Ukraine War? U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped outside his office at No. 10 Downing Street, joining Ukraine’s ambassador and some Ukrainian soldiers being trained in the United Kingdom for a minute’s silence in commemoration of those killed in the fighting. King Charles III published a message lauding the “remarkable courage and resilience” of the Ukrainian people. A teenage Ukrainian pianist forced to flee her country with her mother when the war broke out gave a solo performance at a shopping mall in the city of Liverpool in northwest England. Alisa Bushuieva, age 13, wore a traditional Ukrainian floral headband and dress as she played her country’s national anthem. At a convention center in Utrecht, Netherlands, about 2,000 Ukrainian refugees gathered to hear by video link a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and in Brussels hundreds gathered to wave the Ukrainian flag and chant “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine). In northern Europe, people placed candles on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral at a memorial event for Ukraine war victims, and in southern Europe peace quotations printed on jute bags were displayed in Rome as part of an installation by Italian artist Gianfranco Meggiato entitled “The Meeting: The Symbol of Peace.” Moscow planned no special events for Friday, as most Russians took a nationwide day off amid an extended public holiday. As part of authorities’ relentless effort to prevent any sign of dissent, police in some areas visited activists’ homes to warn them against trying to stage any demonstrations. Ukrainians living in Brazil protested outside the Russian Consulate in Sao Paulo, with one sign comparing Putin to Adolf Hitler. Ukrainians in Lebanon chanted slogans during a Beirut rally and held up signs saying, “Stand strong with Ukraine” and “No terrorism.” Ukrainians and their supporters also marked the anniversary in Tel Aviv. Dozens of South Koreans and Ukrainian expatriates gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Seoul. They held candles and banners demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. A peace rally was also held in Tokyo, and people placed flowers outside the Ukrainian consulate in Bali, Indonesia in tribute to those killed in the war. Ukrainians living in Thailand gathered outside their embassy in Bangkok. About 50 people, many wearing their national colors, sang the national anthem as an embassy official raised the flag. Several wept during a speech by the embassy’s charge d’affaires, in which he urged them to stay strong. Iliana Martsenyak, originally from the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has been pummeled by Russian barrages, wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke of how the anniversary made her feel. “Honestly, I cannot find any words to describe how me and every single Ukrainian feels today because of this absolutely irrational, cruel and awful war that has been brought to our land,” she said. The group marched to a nearby city park, holding Ukrainian flags and protest signs aloft. They stopped at the library of Lumpini park, largely in silence as a mother embraced her young daughter and others stared resolutely into the distance. Some of the anniversary commemorations began Thursday evening, when the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Portuguese parliament building in Lisbon were lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The Sydney Opera House followed suit on Friday. A vigil took place in London’s Trafalgar Square, organized by the Ukrainian and U.S. embassies, and 461 paper angels were hung from the roof of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London to commemorate each Ukrainian child that has died in the past year.