United News of Bangladesh

As US President Donald Trump prepares for his first trip to Asia since returning to office, speculation is mounting over a potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in South Korea. If it happens, it would be the first summit between the two since their last impromptu encounter at the Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019, and the fourth overall. During his 2019 visit, Trump made a surprise trip to the North Korean border to revive stalled nuclear talks. While experts say another spontaneous meeting this time is unlikely, some predict dialogue could resume in the coming months. Others argue that a quick diplomatic restart is improbable due to changes since 2019, including North Korea’s expanded nuclear arsenal and increased geopolitical leverage. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in renewing talks with Kim, praising him as “a smart guy.” Kim, breaking his silence last month, said he holds “good personal memories” of Trump and hinted at returning to negotiations if the U.S. abandons its “delusional obsession with denuclearization.” Neither Washington nor Pyongyang has indicated any high-level meeting before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea on Oct. 31-Nov. 1. However, South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young recently told lawmakers that a Panmunjom meeting could be possible following Trump’s visits to Malaysia and Japan. Analysts note that Kim now has greater leverage than in 2019. Since the collapse of prior talks, he has expanded North Korea’s nuclear-capable missile arsenal, strengthened ties with Russia and China, and benefited from weakening sanctions enforcement. Experts suggest this diminishes Kim’s urgency for immediate talks. “If a meeting occurs, Trump could tout it as a diplomatic achievement, but what substantial concessions could the U.S. offer Kim?” questioned Chung Jin-young, former dean at South Korea’s Kyung Hee University. Koh Yu-hwan, former president of South Korea’s Institute of National Unification, added that any meeting around the APEC summit is unlikely to yield meaningful results unless the U.S. brings compelling incentives. Even without an immediate summit, the possibility of future Trump-Kim diplomacy remains. Some view it as a chance to manage North Korea’s nuclear threats, while others warn against offering significant sanctions relief for limited steps, which could leave North Korea with a potent short-range nuclear capability targeting South Korea. Experts note that any partial concessions could trigger demands from South Korea and Japan to develop their own nuclear capabilities, while North Korea is unlikely to fully abandon its nuclear program. Source: AP

European Union leaders are seeking a more active role in Gaza and the occupied West Bank after being sidelined from the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. At a summit Thursday in Brussels largely focused on Ukraine and Russia, EU heads of state discussed the shaky ceasefire in Gaza and pledged EU support for stability in the war-torn coastal enclave. The EU has been the biggest provider of aid to the Palestinians and is Israel's top trading partner. “It is important that Europe not only watches but plays an active role," said Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg, as he headed into the meeting. “Gaza is not over; peace is not yet permanent,” he said. Outrage over the war in Gaza has riven the 27-nation bloc and pushed relations between Israel and the EU to a historic low. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in September plans to seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel, aimed to pressure it to reach a peace deal in Gaza. Momentum driving the measures seemed to falter with the ceasefire deal mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, with some European leaders calling for them to be scrapped. But leaders from Ireland to the Netherlands say that with violence continuing to flare up in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, keeping on the table sanctions of Israeli cabinet ministers and settlements and the partial suspension of a trade deal gives the EU leverage on Israel to curtail military action. In the run-up to the ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month that “Europe has essentially become irrelevant and displayed enormous weakness.” The ceasefire deal came about with no visible input from the EU, and European leaders have since scrambled to join the diplomacy effort currently reshaping Gaza. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has said the EU should play a role in Gaza and not just pay to support stability and eventually reconstruction. The EU has provided key support for the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank.

An Alabama man convicted of helping to burn a man alive in 1993 over a $200 drug debt was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday. Anthony Boyd, 54, was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. at William C. Holman Correctional Facility, authorities said. The execution was carried out by nitrogen gas, a method Alabama began using last year. Boyd was sentenced to death for his role in killing Gregory Huguley in Talladega County. Prosecutors said Huguley was set on fire after he didn’t pay for $200 worth of cocaine. Boyd used his final words to proclaim his innocence and criticize the criminal justice system. “I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t participate in killing anybody,” he said. “There can be no justice until we change this system,” he continued. He said he wanted to express love to those who are still fighting, before closing with, “Let’s get it.”

Dangerous winds swept across New Zealand for the second time in a week on Thursday, forcing school closures, causing widespread power outages, and canceling hundreds of flights. The severe weather also disrupted what was planned as one of the country’s largest industrial actions in decades. The strongest winds struck the lower North Island, including the capital Wellington, and parts of the South Island such as Christchurch. The national meteorological agency, MetService, issued rare “red” wind warnings, the highest level of alert, for multiple regions. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported during Thursday’s storm, though a man had died earlier this week after being struck by a falling tree branch. Transport was severely affected, with over 200 flights canceled nationwide. Wind speeds reached 140-160 km/h (87-100 mph) in urban areas, with gusts hitting 230 km/h (143 mph) in remote parts of the South Island. Trees were uprooted, roofs damaged, and shipping containers toppled at the Dunedin port. Several highways were closed, including routes to the West Coast of the South Island, cut off due to flooding. The extreme weather also disrupted a planned “mega strike” by more than 100,000 health and education workers represented by four unions. Teachers, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff walked off the job for four hours after months of unsuccessful pay and conditions negotiations. While some rallies were canceled due to the storm, thousands still marched in Auckland and Hamilton, and hundreds joined demonstrations in smaller towns. Hospitals and emergency rooms remained operational, though public health authorities advised people to seek medical care only for urgent matters. The industrial action reflects mounting frustrations over government spending cuts and a rising exodus of medical professionals to neighboring Australia for higher pay and better living conditions. Authorities expect winds to ease by Friday but warned travelers to remain cautious. Fireworks and open-fire bans remain in effect as high winds have sparked wildfires, some of which firefighters have struggled to control. New Zealand’s mountainous terrain and southern latitude make it vulnerable to extreme weather year-round. Source: AP

Saudi Arabia has appointed prominent ultraconservative scholar Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s new grand mufti — the country’s highest religious authority. The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported late Wednesday that the appointment was made by King Salman on the recommendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sheikh Saleh, 90, succeeds Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, who served as grand mufti for 25 years until his death in September. Born on September 28, 1935, in Saudi Arabia’s al-Qassim province, Sheikh Saleh studied the Quran with a local imam after his father’s death and later rose to prominence as a scholar through his long-running radio program “Noor ala al-Darb” (“Light the Way”), books, and television appearances. His religious edicts, or fatwas, are widely circulated on social media. Sheikh Saleh has drawn criticism in the past for controversial remarks. Human Rights Watch cited him in 2017 for calling Shiite Muslims “brothers of Satan” and questioning their faith. He also condemned Yemen’s Houthi rebels for targeting holy sites in Saudi Arabia. In 2003, he was quoted as saying, “Slavery is a part of Islam. Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long as there is Islam.” In 2016, a fatwa attributed to him banned the mobile game Pokémon Go, calling it a form of gambling. Ironically, Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed now owns major stakes in Nintendo and Niantic, the game’s developer. 'Muslim Ummah loses guiding voice', Prof Yunus on Saudi Grand Mufti’s death The new appointment breaks a long tradition of members of the al-Sheikh family — descendants of Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Abdul-Wahhab — serving as grand mufti. The 18th-century cleric’s ultraconservative teachings, known as Wahhabism, have shaped Saudi religious doctrine for decades, particularly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. The grand mufti is among the most influential Sunni clerics globally, and his rulings are closely watched given Saudi Arabia’s status as custodian of Islam’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. While Saudi Arabia has moved toward social liberalization under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed — allowing women to drive and reopening cinemas — the appointment of Sheikh Saleh signals the enduring influence of the kingdom’s conservative religious establishment. Source: AP

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday ordered Israel to allow the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, ruling that the country must facilitate relief operations in the besieged territory. The Hague-based court was asked by the UN General Assembly last year to clarify Israel’s legal obligations after it passed laws effectively barring UNRWA — the main provider of humanitarian assistance in Gaza — from operating there. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa said Israel “is under the obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA.” Israel has blocked UNRWA from bringing in supplies since March, though the agency continues to run health centers, mobile medical teams, sanitation services and schools inside Gaza. The agency says some 6,000 trucks loaded with food and medical supplies are waiting to enter the enclave. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the “unambiguous ruling” on X, saying the agency has “the resources and expertise to immediately scale up the humanitarian response in Gaza” with large quantities of aid on standby in Egypt and Jordan. The court’s advisory opinion comes as a fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, in effect since October 10, continues to hold. Israel, which did not attend the ICJ hearings in April, dismissed the opinion as biased but said in a written submission that it “fully upholds its obligations under international law.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry also said it “will not cooperate with an organization that is infested with terror activities,” referring to UNRWA. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the ICJ ruling “an important decision” and urged Israel to comply, saying it would be “decisive” for efforts to boost humanitarian aid in Gaza. The ICJ found Israel had not substantiated its allegations that UNRWA was infiltrated by Hamas, adding that Gaza’s population had been “inadequately supplied” and that Israel must ensure “the basic needs of the local population” are met. More experts label Israel’s Gaza offensive as genocide, deepening global isolation Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi hailed the decision as “clear, unequivocal and conclusive,” saying it leaves Israel with “no pretext, no context, no excuse” to block UNRWA. The ruling adds to a series of ICJ advisory opinions criticizing Israeli policies. In 2023, the court said Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territories was unlawful and called for an end to settlement construction. While ICJ advisory opinions are legally significant, they are nonbinding and carry no direct enforcement mechanism. The decision is separate from South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel before the ICJ. The court’s opinion also noted that Israel “is not to use starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare.” Legal experts said the opinion strengthens the case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), which last year issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of using starvation as a weapon of war — charges Israel denies. The Gaza war began after Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed more than 68,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Source: AP

The International Court of Justice said on Wednesday that Israel must allow the U.N. aid agency in Gaza, known as UNRWA, to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian territory. The U.N. General Assembly had requested the Hague-based court last year to clarify Israel’s legal responsibilities after it barred UNRWA — the primary humanitarian agency operating in Gaza — from continuing its work there. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa stated that Israel is obligated to allow and support relief efforts by the United Nations and its agencies, including UNRWA. Ceasefire to consider The advisory opinion from the World Court comes as a fragile U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement, which took effect on Oct. 10, continues to hold. Israel has denied it has violated international law, saying the court's proceedings are biased, and the country didn't attend hearings in April. However, Israel provided a 38-page written submission for the court to consider. In a written statement, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the opinion and said Israel “fully upholds its obligations under International Law.” It added, in a reference to UNRWA, that Israel “will not cooperate with an organization that is infested with terror activities.” UNRWA ban The U.N. aid agency in Gaza has been effectively banned from the territory since January. UNRWA has faced criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who say the group is deeply infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA rejects that claim, and the ICJ found that Israel hadn't “substantiated the allegations,” Iwasawa said. The court also held that the population of the Gaza Strip had been “inadequately supplied,” and that Israel was required to ensure “the basic needs of the local population” are met. Representatives of the Palestinians applauded the decision. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi said it was “clear, unequivocal and conclusive” and left Israel with “no pretext, no context, no excuse” to ban UNRWA. In its written submission, Israel argued that the court should reject the request from the U.N. General Assembly, because it was too similar to other advisory opinions and the judges lacked the fact-finding abilities to make a determination. Advisory opinion In an advisory opinion last year, the court said that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on it to end, and for settlement construction to stop immediately. That ruling fueled moves for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Israel condemned the decision, saying it failed to address the country’s security concerns. Two decades ago, the court ruled that Israel’s West Bank separation barrier was “contrary to international law.” Israel boycotted those proceedings, saying they were politically motivated. Advisory opinions carry significant legal weight, but are described as “nonbinding” as there are no direct penalties for ignoring them. Wednesday opinion is separate from the ongoing proceedings initiated by South Africa, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel rejects South Africa’s claim and accuses it of providing political cover for Hamas. Arrest warrant for Netanyahu Last year, another Hague-based tribunal, the International Criminal Court, issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, alleging that the pair have used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians — charges that Israeli officials strongly deny. The advisory opinion from the ICJ noted that Israel “is not to use starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare." The opinion provides “strong legal support for the case against Netanyahu” said Tom Dannenbaum, professor of law at Stanford University. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and 250 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in the Palestinian territory has killed more than 68,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s figures, which don't distinguish between civilians and combatants, are seen as the most reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday offered a firm defense of science and weather forecasting, commending the UN’s weather agency for its critical role in saving lives through global climate disaster monitoring. Speaking at a special session of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Guterres praised the agency’s contributions at a time when science is under political attack in the United States, where President Donald Trump has dismissed climate change as “a con job” and led an anti-science campaign. A strong advocate for climate action, Guterres highlighted the importance of expanding early-warning systems that enable both developed and developing countries to prepare for floods, storms, wildfires, and heat waves. “Without your long-term monitoring, we wouldn’t benefit from the warnings and guidance that protect communities and save millions of lives and billions of dollars each year,” he said, referring to “the dangerous and existential threat of climate change.” His comments came after the WMO revealed last week that concentrations of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surged by the largest annual increase ever recorded, reaching levels unprecedented in human history and fueling more extreme weather events. Guterres hailed WMO scientists and staff as the “quiet force that illuminates all the rational climate decisions that we take.” “Scientists and researchers should never be afraid to tell the truth,” he added. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has imposed deep funding cuts on the U.S. National Weather Service and dismissed hundreds of meteorologists and staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, weakening the country’s weather forecasting capacity.

Two journalists — one held in Belarus and the other in Georgia — have been awarded the European Union’s highest human rights accolade, the Sakharov Prize, as announced on Wednesday by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Andrzej Poczobut, a correspondent for the prominent Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of “undermining Belarusian national security.” He is currently serving his sentence in the Novopolotsk penal colony. Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent journalist who founded two of Georgia’s independent media outlets, was in August convicted of slapping a police chief during an anti-government protest. She was sentenced to two years in prison in a case that was condemned by rights groups as an attempt to curb media freedom. “Both are journalists currently in prison on trumped up charges simply for doing their work and for speaking out against injustice. Their courage has made them symbols of the struggle for freedom and democracy,” Metsola said at the parliament in Strasbourg, France. The annual EU award, named after Soviet dissident Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and basic freedoms. The winner is chosen by senior EU lawmakers from among candidates nominated by the European Parliament’s various political groups. The assembly says the award is “the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work.” Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told the lawmakers that awarding it to Poczobut and “fearless” Amaghlobeli this year “sends a strong message to all political prisoners that you are not alone and journalism is not a crime.” She and her husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski, who both made speeches to the assembly, along with others opposed to the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, won the Sakharov Prize in 2020. Poczobut, 52, suffers from a serious heart condition and was placed in solitary confinement several times, sometimes for stretches of up to six months, human rights activists have said. His newspaper said it hoped that the award “will be a pebble that will trigger an avalanche of events. That it will lead to the imminent release of our Belarusian correspondent. Andrzej’s fate has finally ceased to be a game between Lukashenko’s special services and Poland. It is a matter for the whole of Europe.” Lukashenko, nicknamed “Europe’s last dictator,” has ruled Belarus for over three decades, maintaining his grip on power through elections dismissed by the West as neither free nor fair and violent crackdowns on dissent. Following the 2020 protests that saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets, more than 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten, and hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed. Lukashenko pardoned 52 prisoners after a phone call in August with U.S. President Donald Trump that sparked speculation of a possible thaw in relations. The release came as the Trump administration sought to improve communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Amaghlobeli's case is just one of many to draw protests and international criticism in Georgia in recent months as the ruling Georgian Dream party has been accused of eroding civil society and democratic rights in the South Caucasus nation. During her trial, she urged the opposition to keep fighting. “You must never lose faith in your own capabilities. There is still time. The fight continues— until victory!” she said. Amaghlobeli is the founder and manager of investigative news outlet Batumelebi, which covers politics, corruption and human rights in Georgia. She also founded its sister publication, Netgazeti. Georgia has seen widespread political unrest and protests since last year’s parliamentary election in which Georgian Dream retained its control of the parliament. Protesters and the country’s opposition declared the result illegitimate amid allegations of vote-rigging aided by Russia. Several Sakharov laureates, including Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this month, picked up the Sakharov last year. The award, which comes with a 50,000 euro ($58,000) endowment, will be presented in a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in December.

Japan’s new government plans to showcase its commitment to bolstering defense amid regional tensions when U.S. President Donald Trump visits Tokyo next week, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Wednesday. Trump is set to meet Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader, from Oct. 27-29. Motegi said the talks will focus on further strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and building personal trust between the leaders. Japan is in the midst of a five-year military buildup through 2027, doubling defense spending to 2% of GDP and developing strike-back capabilities, marking a shift from its postwar pacifist stance. Motegi emphasized adapting to emerging warfare, including drone swarms and cyberattacks, while reviewing the strategy to convey plans firmly to the U.S. Japan also aims to cooperate with South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, while maintaining stable relations with China. Motegi stressed that defense decisions should be independent, focused on capability rather than spending targets, though Trump may push for increased spending, more U.S. weapons purchases, and support for American troops stationed in Japan. Motegi, returning to the role for a second term, will also follow up on the Japan-U.S. tariffs agreement, aiming for steady implementation to promote mutual economic benefits and security.