United News of Bangladesh

The United States deployed two warships on Wednesday near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, following a collision two days ago between two Chinese ships that occurred while attempting to drive away a smaller Philippine vessel, an incident that has alarmed several Western and Asian nations. Both China and the Philippines claim Scarborough Shoal, along with other outcroppings in the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also assert overlapping claims in the contested waters. The USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer, and the USS Cincinnati, a littoral combat ship, sailed about 30 nautical miles (55 km) from Scarborough Shoal and were shadowed by a Chinese navy ship. There were no reports of any incident during the patrol, Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela said, citing U.S. and Philippine surveillance sources. The U.S. Navy has long conducted “freedom of navigation” and overflight operations in the South China Sea to challenge China’s claims and restrictions, prompting frequent close encounters with Chinese ships and aircraft in international waters. The deployment came after U.S. Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson condemned China on Tuesday for what she called “reckless action” against a Philippine vessel at Scarborough. The area, rich in fishing grounds, has seen repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent years. Wall Street welcomes U.S.-China tariff extension, shifts attention to inflation data The clash occurred Monday when a Chinese navy destroyer and a Chinese coast guard ship accidentally collided while blocking the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Suluan about 10.5 nautical miles (19 km) from Scarborough. Video footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows Chinese personnel on deck before the collision, which left the coast guard ship’s bow heavily damaged and the navy ship with deep dents along its hull. Japan, Australia, and New Zealand expressed concern over the dangerous maneuvers in the busy trade route. Japanese Ambassador to Manila Endo Kazuya called for adherence to international law, while the Australian Embassy described the incident as “dangerous and unprofessional,” urging restraint and de-escalation. Commodore Tarriela described the incident as a warning to China about the risks of reckless maneuvers, emphasizing adherence to anti-collision rules. He also reported that a Chinese fighter jet flew as close as 500 feet (152 meters) to a Philippine surveillance plane over Scarborough, carrying out risky maneuvers for about 20 minutes.   Source: Agency

Typhoon Podul struck Taiwan on Wednesday, prompting the closure of schools and government offices due to concerns about heavy rainfall and potential agricultural damage in the island's southeast. The typhoon made landfall in Taitung County, located on Taiwan’s eastern coast, shortly after midday. It moved across the island’s southern region at a speed of around 36 kilometers (22 miles) per hour and was expected to enter the Taiwan Strait and head toward China by late afternoon, according to the Central Weather Administration. While strong winds and high waves were reported in the southeast, the storm had not yet brought significant rainfall. These types of storms usually impact the east coast first, then weaken as they cross Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range before heading toward mainland China. Podul, which spanned 120 kilometers (75 miles), was projected to expand in size but lose intensity as it continued westward. The storm’s impact was concentrated in southern regions, far from the capital Taipei, its international airport, and major tech hubs. Several flights heading south toward the storm’s path were delayed or canceled. Heavily affected areas included the counties and cities of Tainan, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Yunlin, Pingtung, Hualien, and the offshore Penghu Islands. In addition to flooding, typhoons frequently damage crops and trigger landslides, particularly in Taiwan’s mountainous center. Recent weeks of heavy rain had already inflicted significant agricultural losses and caused power outages in rural areas, some of which took weeks to restore. Emergency and recovery teams remain on high alert.

The wife of South Korea's jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested as investigators seek to charge her over various suspected crimes, including bribery, stock manipulation and meddling in the selection of a candidate. In granting a special prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant late Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court said Kim Keon Hee posed a risk of destroying evidence. The investigation into Kim is one of three special prosecutor probes launched under Seoul’s new liberal government targeting the presidency of Yoon, a conservative who was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December. While Yoon’s self-inflicted downfall extended a decades-long run of South Korean presidencies ending badly, he and Kim are the first former presidential couple to be jailed simultaneously over criminal allegations. Yoon’s surprising yet poorly planned power grab on Dec. 3 came amid a seemingly routine standoff with the liberals, who he described as “anti-state” forces abusing their legislative majority to block his agenda. Some political opponents have questioned whether Yoon’s actions were at least partly motivated by growing allegations against his wife, which hurt his approval ratings and gave political ammunition to his rivals. Kim did not speak to reporters as she arrived at the Seoul court Tuesday for an hours-long hearing on the warrant request. She is being held at a detention center in southern Seoul, separate from the facility holding Yoon. She is expected to face further questioning on Thursday by investigators, who can extend her detention for up to 20 days before formally filing charges. The investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, who was appointed in June by new liberal President Lee Jae Myung, initially questioned Kim for about seven hours on Wednesday last week before deciding to seek her arrest. Kim spoke briefly to reporters as she appeared for last week’s questioning, issuing a vague apology for causing public concern but also hinting that she would deny the allegations against her, portraying herself as “someone insignificant.” Investigators suspect that Kim and Yoon exerted undue influence on the conservative People Power Party to nominate a specific candidate in a 2022 legislative by-election, allegedly at the request of election broker Myung Tae-kyun. Myung faces accusations of conducting free opinion surveys for Yoon using manipulated data that possibly helped him win the party’s presidential primaries before his election as president. Kim is separately linked to multiple corruption allegations, including claims that she received luxury gifts via a fortuneteller acting as an intermediary for a Unification Church official seeking business favors, and possible involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to a local BMW dealership company. Min’s investigation team arrested one of Kim’s close associates earlier Tuesday following his arrival from Vietnam, as they look into suspicions that he used his connection to the former first lady to secure millions of dollars in business investments for his financially struggling company. The investigators also raided a construction company on Monday over allegations that its chairman purchased a luxury necklace reportedly worth $43,000, which they believe was the same one Kim wore while accompanying Yoon on a 2022 trip to Europe. Investigators suspect that the necklace was possibly linked to the chairman’s son-in-law’s hiring as the chief of staff of then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Yoon’s No. 2, shortly before the presidential trip. Kim has reportedly denied the accusations, claiming that the necklace she wore in Europe was not an authentic piece but a borrowed fake. While in office, Yoon dismissed calls to investigate his wife as baseless political attacks and vetoed multiple bills from the liberal-led legislature seeking independent probes into the allegations. Shortly after winning the early presidential election in June, new President Lee Jae Myung approved legislation to launch sweeping special investigations into Yoon’s martial law debacle, the allegations against his wife, and the 2023 drowning death of a marine during a flood rescue operation, an incident the liberals claim Yoon’s government tried to cover up. Yoon’s martial law decree lasted only hours, after a quorum of lawmakers managed to break through a blockade of heavily armed soldiers and voted to revoke the measure. He was impeached by lawmakers on Dec. 14 and was formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April. Yoon, who was sent back to prison last month following a March release and faces a high-stakes trial on rebellion and other charges, has repeatedly resisted investigators’ attempts to compel him to answer questions about his wife.

Members of Guatemala’s two largest gangs — Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha — rioted in two prisons on Tuesday, demanding the return of 10 leaders who were transferred to another facility and placed in solitary confinement. Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez told AP that at least six prison guards are being held hostage, including one who was shot, during the unrest at two prisons in Guatemala City. Jiménez said the rioters want authorities to move their leaders back from Renovación I prison, where they are under strict isolation, to facilities where they previously held influence and “exercised criminal power.” Guatemala's president ignores new asylum deal with US “The Guatemalan state will not bow down to you,” Jiménez wrote on social media. The transfers came just over a month after a funeral home massacre left seven people dead during a wake for an alleged gang member. Authorities blame the gangs for recent violence in the country, which they say is driven by ongoing conflict between the rival groups. Jiménez vowed the government will not give in to threats, stressing that the imprisoned gang leaders will receive “no privileges, no concessions,” adding, “The security and peace of Guatemalans is far above any threat from these criminals.”   Source: Agency

Wall Street remained steady following the postponement of the U.S.-China tariff deadline, with investors shifting focus to July’s inflation data due Tuesday, which could heavily influence the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to cut interest rates as demanded by President Donald Trump or maintain the current stance. Futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq showed little change before the market opened. President Trump signed an executive order late Monday granting a 90-day extension for trade talks between the U.S. and China, delaying a possible tariff increase on Chinese imports from the existing 30% rate. Beijing responded with a similar extension. This delay provides an opportunity for a potential trade deal but also prolongs uncertainty affecting businesses and consumers since the trade war escalation began. “The extension isn’t about goodwill; it’s about keeping oxygen in the room for deals that matter,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management. The U.S. government is set to release inflation figures for July later Tuesday, with economists forecasting a 2.8% year-on-year increase in consumer prices, up from 2.7% in June. Despite improvements from a peak above 9% three years ago, inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, raising concerns that tariffs could further push prices upward. Experts warn of the risk of stagflation — stagnant economic growth combined with high inflation — a scenario difficult to manage as measures to curb inflation could harm the job market and vice versa. Wall Street stocks rise slightly, maintaining weekly gains In premarket trading, Intel shares rose 3% after Trump met with CEO Lip-Bu Tan and retracted his earlier demand for Tan’s resignation. The stock had declined last week after Trump accused Tan of conflicts of interest linked to investments in firms associated with the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army, following concerns raised by Senator Tom Cotton. In Europe, France’s CAC 40 and Britain’s FTSE 100 each gained 0.1% by midday, while Germany’s DAX fell 0.5%. Asian markets saw Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jump 2.2% to a record high of 42,718.17, boosted by Toyota’s nearly 3% gain. Other Japanese stocks such as Honda, Tokyo Electron, Sharp, Sanrio, and Seiko also saw significant increases following confirmation that tariffs on Japanese imports would be set at 15% without “stacking” additional duties. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.3% to 24,969.68, and Shanghai Composite climbed 0.5% to 3,665.92. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.4% to 8,880.80, while South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.5% to 3,189.91. In energy markets, U.S. crude oil fell 25 cents to $63.71 per barrel, and Brent crude dropped 16 cents to $66.47 per barrel.   In currency trading, the U.S. dollar strengthened slightly to 148.46 Japanese yen from 148.15 yen. The euro weakened to $1.1605 from $1.1618.   Source: Agency

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a famine-stricken displacement camp near el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on Monday, killing at least 40 people, according to local human rights groups. The Emergency Response Rooms, a community aid group operating in Sudan, reported on Facebook that RSF troops stormed parts of the Abu Shouk camp, targeting civilians inside their homes. At least 19 others were injured in the attack, the group said. Home to approximately 450,000 displaced people, the Abu Shouk camp has faced repeated assaults throughout the war. Although el-Fasher remains under the control of the Sudanese army, RSF continues to carry out frequent attacks on the city and surrounding areas. Local Resistance Committees in el-Fasher confirmed the violence, describing it as a reflection of the "horrific violations committed against innocent, unarmed civilians." These committees consist of local activists and community members focused on documenting human rights abuses. The Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University released satellite images showing 40 vehicles within the camp on Monday, supporting claims of an RSF raid. The lab also reviewed photos and videos allegedly showing RSF fighters shooting at people attempting to crawl away, while also using ethnic slurs and verbal abuse. Additional satellite imagery from Saturday appeared to show RSF forces blocking key escape routes from el-Fasher, including roads leading to Kutum and Mellit. Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 following tensions between the RSF and the national army. Since then, over 40,000 people have been killed, around 12 million displaced, and many areas pushed to the edge of famine. Abu Shouk is one of two camps facing severe famine conditions, according to aid organizations. On Monday, Sudan’s military claimed it engaged RSF forces in el-Fasher from early morning until the afternoon. The army said it repelled a major assault and inflicted significant damage—destroying over 16 combat vehicles and capturing 34 more, including armored units. The RSF, however, posted on Telegram that it had made gains in the city and seized equipment, though it did not provide specifics. Darfur Governor Mini Arko Minawi commented on Facebook, stating that el-Fasher had "triumphed over traitors," a veiled reference to the RSF. Elsewhere, in North Kordofan province, the RSF was accused of forcing over 3,000 families from 66 villages since early August. The Sudan Doctors Network reported that RSF fighters looted homes, stole money and livestock, and left 18 civilians dead and many more injured. Those displaced have been arriving in Khartoum and White Nile provinces. At the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Edem Wosornum, from the U.N.'s humanitarian affairs agency, raised concerns about the deadly conditions in el-Fasher, reporting that over 60 people—mostly women and children—died from malnutrition in just one week.

Israel’s recent killing of an Al Jazeera reporter in Gaza has intensified concerns over journalist safety in the region. Even in a war already notorious for its deadly toll on media workers, this incident stands out—raising alarm about how any news is still emerging from Gaza under such extreme conditions. Despite the dangers, Al Jazeera affirmed on Monday that it will continue its coverage and urged other news outlets to recruit and support more journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 184 Palestinian journalists and media personnel have died since the war began in October 2023. By comparison, only 18 journalists have died in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Israel has largely shut out foreign media from Gaza during the 22-month war, granting access only on rare guided tours. As a result, global audiences rely on Palestinian journalists and local sources to learn what's happening. Israel frequently casts doubt on the objectivity of these journalists, but does not allow others in. “You’re amazed that any reporting gets done,” said veteran war correspondent Jane Ferguson, founder of Noosphere. She has covered war zones in Syria, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, but said Gaza has been the hardest to report from. Journalist Anas al-Sharif, aware he was being targeted, left behind a farewell message. He was among eight killed—six of them journalists—when an Israeli airstrike hit near Gaza City’s main hospital on Sunday. Israel claimed he led a Hamas cell but provided no evidence, a claim both Al Jazeera and al-Sharif had rejected. High Journalist Casualties in Gaza Major outlets like AFP, AP, BBC, and Reuters are reporting from Gaza, often using local contacts. An August 7 report from the AP described severe hunger: a single bowl of watery eggplant stew feeding a family of six—barely resembling the traditional moussaka once common in Gaza. Other AP stories have documented the destruction of Gaza’s only Catholic church and followed the lives of young survivors, like an aspiring 18-year-old doctor now living in a tent. Reporters from The Washington Post and The Guardian recently joined a Jordanian aid mission, offering rare aerial views of Gaza’s devastation. As Guardian’s Lorenzo Tondo noted, the territory looked like “the ruins of an ancient civilization.” Yet, no outlet has delivered the same level of immediacy as Al Jazeera, whose on-camera correspondents have paid the steepest price. CPJ estimates 11 of its journalists and media workers have been killed, more than any other outlet. In a post prepared before his death, al-Sharif said he had endured deep suffering but never hesitated to tell the truth. “I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is... so that Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent,” he wrote. On August 10, the day of his death, al-Sharif described the trauma of witnessing the aftermath of an Israeli strike. “Body parts and blood were all around us,” he wrote. “When I said it was an ‘indescribable scene,’ I truly meant it—I was helpless.” Al Jazeera Urges Global Media to Step Up Salah Negm, Al Jazeera English’s news director, acknowledged the difficulty of sending reporters into Gaza. However, he stressed the importance of utilizing the many educated, trained locals willing to report from the ground. He urged other news organizations to engage more directly. “We get our reports not just from journalists but also from doctors, aid workers, civil servants,” he said. “People in Gaza want the world to hear them.” Local journalists often endure the same hardships as those they cover—including food scarcity. Jane Ferguson said she’s never before needed to ask a reporter if they had enough food for themselves or their children. In a May interview on Democracy Now!, 22-year-old journalist Abubaker Abed explained why he left Gaza to study in Ireland. He was suffering from hunger, and his mother feared his journalism could endanger their family. “If I stayed, I would die,” he said. Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ’s CEO, warned that the lack of consequences for attacks on journalists sets a dangerous precedent. “They’re basically admitting to a war crime in public,” she said. “And because previous attacks haven’t led to accountability, they can act with impunity.” Despite the severe conditions, Ginsberg said what’s most striking is that journalists are still finding ways to report from Gaza.  

Nvidia and AMD have agreed to share 15% of their revenue from chip sales to China with the U.S. government, part of a deal to secure export licenses for their semiconductors. The Trump administration had halted advanced chip sales to China in April over national security concerns. However, in July, Nvidia and AMD announced that Washington would permit the sale of Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308 chips, which are widely used in artificial intelligence development. President Trump confirmed the terms of this unusual agreement during a Monday press conference, revealing he initially sought 20% of sales revenue but agreed to 15% after negotiations with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Trump described the chips as “obsolete” and called the deal “a little deal.” Nvidia did not comment on the revenue-sharing details but affirmed it would comply with U.S. export regulations. “We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets,” the company said in a statement. Nvidia emphasized the importance of maintaining America’s leadership in AI technology globally. AMD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The deal raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the top Democrat on a House committee on China, criticized the arrangement as “a dangerous misuse of export controls that undermines our national security.” He pledged to seek answers on the legal basis of the deal and demanded full transparency from the administration. China's Kaixi Group to invest $40 million in Bangladesh  Derek Scissors, a China expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, questioned the constitutionality of the deal, warning that “export taxes are unconstitutional” and that this 15% revenue share effectively acts as a tax. He cautioned that the arrangement risks sacrificing national security for revenue. In July, Nvidia warned that strict export controls could cost the company an additional $5.5 billion and argued that such limits hinder U.S. competitiveness in one of the largest global tech markets. The company also cautioned that U.S. restrictions might push other nations toward adopting China’s AI technologies. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick linked the renewed chip sales to a trade agreement between the U.S. and China on rare earth magnets. Export restrictions on advanced chips remain a key issue in the AI race between the U.S. and China. Supporters say the controls are vital to slow China’s progress and protect U.S. leadership, while critics point to loopholes and potential unintended consequences. The recent emergence of China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot has intensified worries about how China may use advanced chips to boost its AI capabilities.   Source: Agency

Ukraine and its European supporters have firmly opposed any land swap decisions between the United States and Russia behind their backs ahead of the upcoming summit in Alaska. However, European officials admit that Moscow is unlikely to willingly relinquish the Ukrainian territories it currently occupies. Ahead of Friday’s summit, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal might involve “some swapping of territories.” But so far, there is no indication Russia is prepared to negotiate on territorial concessions. Notably, neither Ukraine nor European representatives have been invited to participate in the summit. European Union foreign ministers met Monday following discussions among U.S. and European security advisors over the weekend. They expressed concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin may portray Ukraine as rigid to claim a political advantage. Concerns are growing in Europe and Kyiv that Ukraine could be pressured into surrendering land or accepting limitations on its sovereignty. Both Ukraine and its European allies reject any claims by Putin to Ukrainian territory before a ceasefire is agreed upon. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed, “International law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine,” adding, “A sustainable peace means aggression cannot be rewarded.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underscored that state borders cannot be changed by force and any territorial agreements must involve Ukraine’s participation. Germany stops military exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany would not accept territorial discussions or decisions by Russia and the U.S. without involving Europeans or Ukrainians. Nonetheless, the facts on the ground are difficult to ignore. Since 2022, Russia has illegally annexed parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, while continuing its occupation of Crimea since 2014. Along the 1,000-kilometer front line, Russia’s larger army has made slow but costly advances during its summer offensive, with U.N. estimates reporting over 12,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths due to relentless bombardments. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that Russia’s control over parts of Ukraine must be addressed in peace talks following the Alaska summit. He clarified that while Western allies cannot accept this control legally, they may tacitly acknowledge it, comparing the situation to the U.S. hosting Baltic diplomatic missions during Soviet occupation without legal recognition. For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, conceding any territory without a ceasefire would be politically untenable after the heavy sacrifices made by Ukrainian troops. Experts suggest Putin’s goal is less about territory and more about securing a Russia-friendly Ukraine with a compliant government unlikely to seek NATO membership, similar to pro-Russian separatist regions in Georgia. Zelenskyy insists that fighting must stop before negotiations begin, a stance backed by Europe. They emphasize that any land swaps should be decided by Ukraine and not set as preconditions for a ceasefire. Territorial claims may also be part of broader talks on security guarantees Ukraine seeks to prevent future conflicts. Europe believes Ukraine’s strongest defense is a well-armed military capable of deterring further Russian aggression, insisting on no limits on troop numbers or weaponry. Additionally, Europe asserts Ukraine should freely choose its future, whether EU membership or neutrality, despite the Trump administration ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine in the near term.   Source: Agency

Finnish prosecutors have charged the captain and two senior officers of a Russia-linked oil tanker accused of damaging vital undersea cables between Finland and Estonia in what officials describe as a major act of sabotage. The Deputy Prosecutor General said Monday that the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S face counts of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications, charges they deny. Their identities have not been released. Green Transition: Finland sees enormous potential to enhance collaboration with Bangladesh Investigators allege the Eagle S, part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, dragged its anchor for 90 kilometers on Dec. 25, cutting five submarine cables — including the Estlink-2 power link and other communications lines — causing an estimated €60 million ($69.7 million) in damage. The ship had departed Russia’s Ust-Luga port carrying oil products and is flagged in the Cook Islands. While the Kremlin denies any role, European officials say such incidents fit a pattern of suspected Russian sabotage targeting critical infrastructure since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The damaged Estlink-2 supplies up to half of Estonia’s winter electricity needs. Although service continued via backups, the disruption triggered higher energy prices across the Baltics. Defendants argue Finland lacks jurisdiction because the damage occurred outside its territorial waters. Source: Agency